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Australia Pledges $50M Aid as Taliban Fails to Meet Afghan Basic Needs

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the Taliban's failure to meet the basic needs of the Afghan people, announcing an additional $50 million in humanitarian support. This brings Australia's total aid since the fall of Kabul in 2021 to $310 million, targeting a crisis where nearly 22 million people need urgent assistance. Separately, the European Union has committed €10 million for the second phase of a program aimed at empowering Afghan women economically. Both aid packages are being channeled through established UN partners and local institutions to deliver support.

Key Points: Australia Condemns Taliban, Pledges $50M Afghan Aid

  • Australia pledges $50M in new aid
  • Total Australian aid since 2021 hits $310M
  • 22 million Afghans need urgent support
  • EU allocates €10M for women's economic empowerment
  • Programs run through UN partners
2 min read

Australian FM Penny Wong condemns Taliban's "failure to meet basic needs"

Australian FM Penny Wong announces $50M humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, condemning Taliban's failure as EU also funds women's empowerment.

"The people of Afghanistan are enduring one of the world's worst protracted humanitarian crises. - Penny Wong"

Canberra, January 29

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senator for South Australia, Penny Wong, took to X to express her dismay at the plight of people in Afghanistan and Taliban's leadership.

In a post on X, she wrote, "The people of Afghanistan are enduring one of the world's worst protracted humanitarian crises, exacerbated by the Taliban's failure to meet basic needs. In response, the Australian Government will provide a further $50 million in support through established UN partners."

She spoke about Australian aid to Afghanistan through its "UN partners."

In a statement released on X, Wong said, "This brings the total humanitarian support provided to the people of Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul in 2021 to $310 million... Almost 22 million people in Afghanistan are in urgent need of humanitarian support."

As Afghan women continue to face barriers to employment amid social and economic restrictions, the European Union too had announced 10 million euros in funding for the second phase of its Women's Economic Empowerment through Local Enterprise Development (WE-LEAD) programme in Afghanistan, Tolo News reported.

The EU said the initiative will be implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and local Afghan institutions, with a focus on strengthening livelihoods, generating income opportunities and enhancing women's participation in the economy.

According to Tolo News, the EU noted in a statement that "The project promotes culturally appropriate and Sharia-compliant financial mechanisms combined with business development support, mentorship, and market linkages."

The European Union also announced that it will allocate EUR10 million to launch the second phase of its Women's Economic Empowerment through Local Enterprise Development (WE-LEAD) program in Afghanistan, according to a report by Tolo News.

According to Tolo News, citing the EU, the program will be implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and local Afghan institutions, aiming to improve livelihoods, create income opportunities, and support the economic role of women.

The statement issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on January 22 said that the new phase builds on the results and lessons of WE-LEAD Phase I and UNDP's Area Based Approach for Development Emergency Initiatives ABADEI.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the humanitarian gesture is good, I have serious doubts. $310 million since 2021 is a huge amount. Is there proper accountability for where this money goes? The Taliban regime is not recognized by most countries, so how do we ensure aid isn't strengthening their hold? Tough questions need answers.
A
Aman W
Seeing this from India, we understand the complexities of the region. The plight of Afghan women is particularly distressing. The EU's approach of "culturally appropriate and Sharia-compliant" mechanisms is interesting—it shows they are trying to work within the system to create change, which might be the only way forward right now.
S
Sarah B
22 million people in urgent need... that number is staggering. The international community cannot abandon them. Kudos to Australia and the EU for stepping up. I hope other nations, including those in the region, also contribute to easing this immense human suffering. 🙏
V
Vikram M
The basic failure of any government is to not feed its people. The Taliban's ideology is clearly coming at the cost of human lives. India has also provided wheat and medical aid in the past through the UN. This is a humanitarian crisis that transcends politics—people are starving.
K
Kriti O
As an Indian, it's painful to watch a neighboring country suffer so much. We have our own historical and cultural ties with Afghanistan. While aid is necessary, long-term stability requires internal political change. Empowering women economically is a smart first step towards building resilience from within.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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