92001E1184

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1184/01

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Aid to Afghanistan

According to recently published information the Commission has approved 3 million of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

According to the same sources the purpose of that aid is to safeguard the supply of medical and food aid to the most vulnerable inhabitants of Kabul and other cities.

Afghanistan is currently in a highly precarious situation, particular as regards the lack of respect for human rights.

In view of the above, could the Commission specify what action it has taken in order to ensure that the 3 million in question actually reach the most vulnerable people in the country's major cities?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2001)

The Commission has made substantial donations of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in recent years. In 1999, the European Community's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) allocated 19 million addressing the needs of the victims of drought and ongoing conflict. From the budget line to aid uprooted people in Asia and Latin America, the Directorate general for External Relations (RELEX) allocated 27,5 million in 1999 and 16,5 million in 2000 to assist Afghan Internally Displaced People (IDP) and Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran.

In February 2000, ECHO allocated 2,5 million for IDPs in Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Moreover, an intervention plan amounting to 13 million is in the process of being completed. Operations address mainly the general food insecurity in the country as well as assistance to displaced people.

The aid provided aims to alleviate the suffering of people affected by drought and civil conflict mainly through food security operations in urban and rural areas, provision of water (wells), primary health care, a nutritional programme for women and children and emergency assistance programmes for IDPs (tents, blankets ).

These essentially humanitarian operations are implemented through operational partners such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international organisations, and the Red Cross family and United Nations (UN) agencies. Following ECHO's mandate which specifically envisages support to the most vulnerable, the choice of operations to be financed is mainly guided by the focus of activities on those most in need and by the inclusion in the proposed operations of mechanisms such as monitoring provisions, selection criteria, pre-assessment and ex-post evaluation indicators, to ensure that those targeted for aid are actually reached. Furthermore, ECHO has field experts in the country who also follow very closely the ongoing projects to ensure correct delivery of aid.

Finally, the Member of the Commission responsible for Development and Humanitarian aid is planning a mission to Afghanistan in September 2001 to get a direct impression of the situation and the Commission's humanitarian response.