EU pledges 150,000 € aid for Afghanistan floods victims

The European Union said on Tuesday it was providing 150,000 euros (around 13.7 million afghanis) in humanitarian aid for people affected by flash floods in Afghanistan last month.
The aid will directly benefit 35,000 heavily affected people in some of the hardest areas in Kapisa, Maidan Wardak, Paktika, Panjshir and Parwan provinces, EU said in a statement.
The funding supports the Afghan Red Crescent Society in develivering much-needed assistance through the distribution of emergency food supplies to those hit by the floods, the statement said.
Given the predominantly patriarchal culture in the Afghan society, the programme ensures a gender-sensitive approach, allowing both women and men equal and safe access to the support, according to the statement. As the COVID-19 outbreak remains a significant threat, personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and hand sanitisers are also being provided as part of the mitigation measures, the statement said.
More than 190 people were killed and hundreds of families displaced across 14 provinces and central and eastern regions of Afghanistan.
In addition to destroying homes, the floodwaters damaged large swathes of agricultural lands and irrigation systems, adversely affecting the livelihoods and food security of families. More than 60 percent of the deaths were recorded in the worst affected province, Parwan.
However, The EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy has called for an immediate, comprehensive, nationwide and unconditional ceasefire in Afghanistan.
In a phone call with President Ashraf Ghani on Monday, Josep Borell welcomed the launch of the direct Intra-Afghan negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban movement in Doha.
He praised the constructive approach demonstrated by the Afghan government that enabled the launch of negotiations. He hoped the launch could be the opening of a long overdue peaceful chapter for Afghanistan.
He stressed the peace process must be inclusive and build on the political, economic and social achievements of the Afghans since 2001, including women’s rights.
The European Union stood ready to support the process, said Borell, who conferred with Ghani on the current security situation in Afghanistan. The EU official said the still unacceptably high level of violence in Afghanistan contradicted the spirit of a meaningful peace process.
Borell renewed his call to the parties to accompany the start of the peace talks with an immediate, comprehensive, nationwide and unconditional ceasefire.