G20 tackles Afghan humanitarian crisis at special summit
European Union announces billion euro aid package at virtual event hosted by Italian prime minister
The European Union on Tuesday announced a billion euro ($1.2 billion) aid package for Afghanistan at a virtual summit hosted by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
"We must do everything in our power to prevent a major humanitarian and socio-economic collapse in Afghanistan," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.
"The Afghan people must not pay the price for the actions of the Taliban. That is why the support package is aimed at the people of Afghanistan and the country's neighbors who were the first to bring them aid," Von der Leyen continued.
The special summit of the Group of 20 major economies took place as worries grow about a looming humanitarian disaster following the Taliban's return to power.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15, the country — already struggling with drought and severe poverty after decades of war — has seen its economy all but collapse, raising the specter of an exodus of refugees.
"The summit’s focus points include urgent humanitarian support for the Afghan population, the fight against terrorism, freedom of movement inside the country and open borders," Draghi's office said in a brief statement.
US President Joe Biden, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the world leaders who dialed in.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin delegated representatives.