In a resolution adopted on Thursday by 504 votes in favour, 74 against, and 30 abstentions, the European Parliament calls for a stronger emergency aid response to the recent earthquake in Kunar, Afghanistan.

Emergency relief needs to be scaled up

MEPs are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces. The emergency response should be scaled up, in particular to reach underserved populations. As international foreign aid cuts have severely affected programmes in Afghanistan, MEPs say the European Commission should urgently increase EU basic needs support for the country.

Taliban committing “crime against humanity”

Parliament denounces the Taliban regime’s deliberate abandonment of women and girls who are victims of the earthquake “as a crime against humanity”. Noting the regime’s restrictions on aid deliveries to women and girls, MEPs call on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to lift all restrictions that limit the…