Spain will increase its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by more than 16 million euros

These amounts include the €400,000 contribution made by AECID together with the 11 regional communities that are part of the Humanitarian Action agreement with decentralised cooperation.

This was announced by Jose Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, at the virtual Donors' Conference for Afghanistan organised by the United Nations.

This increase of a total of 16.5 million euros will have a regional impact, and is in addition to the 20 million euros of humanitarian aid committed by Spain in 2021 to support the work of UNICEF, UNFPA, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Spain completed its 20 million commitment in 2021 with the shipment of more than two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, valued at more than 13 million euros, to Afghanistan's neighbouring countries for the Afghan refugee population.

Minister Albares took advantage of his participation in the Conference to highlight the solidarity of the Spanish people with the Afghan population, as well as to express the Government of Spain's concern over the constant repression of the public freedoms of the Afghan people, especially the "unacceptable discrimination" suffered by Afghan women and girls, the latter recently deprived of the right to education by the Afghan authorities.

Albares concluded his speech by underlining Spain's commitment to the Afghan population and, in particular, to ensuring peace and well-being in the country.

The conference also reflects the EU's significant support to the region. Within the framework of the Team Europe Approach, the EU and all Member States will contribute more than 524 million euros in 2022 for Afghanistan and the regional crisis of displaced persons, thereby becoming the donor most committed to this crisis.

Non official translation