EU gives Afghanistan €185m in new aid

KABUL services and support farmers under new programmes, an official said on Tuesday.

Contracts to the effect were signed between Finance Minister Omar Zakhilwal and with EU officials in Brussels on Monday, deputy spokesman for the finance ministry, Ghorzang Sayal, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said €125 million would be spent on improving the health sector and €60 million on agriculture over the next six years. The health programme will provide basic care and essential hospital services for 14 million people in 21 provinces.

Sayal hoped it would the Ministry of Public Health ensure effective implementation of the national health strategy called “Health for all Afghans”.

The aid would also improve water resource management programmes besides helping the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to prepare proper strategies for implementing its plans, he said.

Over the past 10 years, EU has provided Afghanistan nearly $2.9 million in different sectors, according to finance ministry.

“The government and people of Afghanistan are grateful to European Commission’s continued support for our development efforts,” Zakhilwal said at the signing ceremony. “Health and agriculture are two of the priorities of the Afghan government.”

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