Parliamentary questions |
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| 27 January 2022 |
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| Question for written answer E-000350/2022 to the Commission Rule 138 Pierfrancesco Majorino (S&D), Patrizia Toia (S&D), Pietro Bartolo (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Simona Bonafè (S&D), Caterina Chinnici (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Paolo De Castro (S&D), Giuseppe Ferrandino (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D), Giuliano Pisapia (S&D), Franco Roberti (S&D), Massimiliano Smeriglio (S&D), Irene Tinagli (S&D) |
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Subject: Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan |
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| The Taliban have been running Afghanistan since August 2021, when they claimed Kabul at the peak of a military offensive launched that May.
The Commission allocated EUR 222 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for 2021 and in October that year pledged a further EUR 1 billion to the Afghan people and neighbouring countries that are offering support through humanitarian organisations on the ground. The country’s situation in terms of socio-economic conditions and rights – of women and children in particular – keeps deteriorating and is creating a humanitarian crisis that is becoming ever more alarming, and is only made worse by the harsh winter. In the light of the above: 1. Will the Commission apply Directive 2001/55/EC on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons? 2. Will it ensure that humanitarian corridors are created for the people of Afghanistan? 3. What humanitarian actions will be taken in priority and within what time frame? |
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| Original language of question: IT |
| Last updated: 10 February 2022 |
Answer given by Ms Johansson
on behalf of the European Commission (6.5.2022)
- Under Directive 2001/55/EC1, temporary protection is introduced by a Council Decision establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons, on a proposal from the Commission, which shall also examine any such request by a Member State. The Commission does not consider that the conditions to trigger the application of Directive 2001/55/EC are met in relation to migratory movements from Afghanistan.
- As the Commission set out in its reply to written question E-5405/2021, it is working to protect Afghans at risk. Its multi-annual support scheme supports Member States on resettlement, humanitarian admission and integration. 15 Member States have pledged more than 38 000 places for Afghans at risk. The Commission supports this with EU funds2. The EU Asylum Agency created an Expert Platform on safe pathways for Afghans to coordinate and share knowledge among Member States and third countries.
- The EU is providing support to the people of Afghanistan with humanitarian assistance. In 2021, it allocated EUR 222 million for life-saving operations prioritising food security, health, nutrition, livelihoods, education, mine action, logistics and multi-sectoral support. On 31 March 2022, the EU announced additional EUR 113 million in humanitarian aid3. An EU- funded humanitarian air bridge has already delivered 314 tons of life-saving relief items since September 2021. At least five additional humanitarian air-bridge flights are under preparation for the first half of 2022. The EU also supports the needs and livelihoods beyond purely humanitarian aid to address basic human needs of displaced Afghans in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries (Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia).
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1 Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof, OJ L 212, 7.8.2001, p. 12–23.
2 e.g. under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, Regulation (EU) 2021/1147.
3 Funds are disbursed exclusively to entrusted humanitarian partners, in compliance with EU restrictive measures.