EU Pledges 1B Euros For Afghan Refugees As G20 Tackles Crisis

The European Union (EU) will give a total of 1 billion euros in aid to support Afghans in their home country and those who have fled elsewhere in the region, Manuel Schwarz reported for the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

Photo Insert: The G20 Extraordinary Meeting

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced the new pledge commitment during a conference of G20 countries on the situation in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The EU had already promised 300 million euros in humanitarian aid. Another 250 million euros will go to support health care operations. Further EU money will flow to neighboring countries that have taken in Afghans.

The leaders of the G20 nations are holding the extraordinary meeting to address the growing humanitarian and security crisis in Afghanistan. Italy holds the rotating G20 presidency this year.

The situation in Afghanistan has dramatically deteriorated since the hardline Islamists seized power in the country following the withdrawal of the US and other Western troops after a nearly 20-year occupation.

Governments worldwide are now debating how best to help the population, as some 3.5 million people are internally displaced. Other concerns include whether to recognize the Taliban, given the Islamists' dire record on human rights.

Two G20 leaders are not attending the summit, which is taking place via videolink: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Both countries gave their support early to the Taliban. Putin is being represented by vice foreign minister Igor Morgulov as Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had prior commitments, the Kremlin said.

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