The European Commission has cleared emergency humanitarian aid worth up to ECU 1.5 million for victims of last earthquake in Afghanistan on June 2. The funding will cover essentials for survival and medical assistance. ECHO is monitoring the situation closely. The International Committee of the Red Cross has sent two aircraft to the region with medical personnel, relief items and 400 kg of medical material. The United Nations has also sent two aircraft with relief material.
Access is very difficult because of heavy rains and flooding.
Since 1995, ECHO has made grants worth a total of ECU 80.685 million for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, not including this latest funding. Jordan s resources as host for Palestinian refugees are stretched to the limit, and the local population is also in need of humanitarian assistance. This funding would cover emergency food aid, family parcels and supplies for medical centres. Alongside this decision ICVA received substantial moral and financial support from individual member organisations, UN friends, governments and other friends. Subsequently, a proposal for the restructuring of ICVA was made and accepted by the Executive Committee in January 1998.