loading…
“We must do all we can to prevent a major humanitarian and socioeconomic collapse in Afghanistan. We have to do it quickly,” said Von der Leyen, as quoted by Al Jazeera, Tuesday (12/10/2021).
Read: Ready to cooperate, EU refuses to recognize Taliban rule
“We have been clear about our conditions for any engagement with the Afghan authorities, including about respecting human rights. So far, the reports speak for themselves. However, the Afghan people should not pay the price for the actions of the Taliban,” he continued.
Von der Leyen said European Union countries – especially those participating in the NATO mission that quickly disbanded in August when the Taliban seized power – had a “moral duty” to help Afghanistan.
Von der Leyen made the appointment at the virtual G20 summit hosted by Italy, dedicated to discussing the humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan. A number of countries that enter the G20 are the United States of America, the European Union, China, Turkey, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia.
Read: EU: Afghanistan Demonstrates Need for Rapid Response Force
On the occasion, Von der Leyen stressed that EU funds provide “direct support” for Afghanistan and will be channeled to international organizations working on the ground, not to the interim Taliban government, which Brussels does not recognize. According to him, EU development assistance is different from humanitarian aid.
International aid has been blocked to Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power following the withdrawal of US and other international troops after 20 years of war. State assets held overseas have been frozen, while food prices and job shortages have risen, triggering warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe as winter sets in.
– .
