EU Contributes €4 Million to UN Humanitarian Air Service in Afghanistan

EU Boosts Humanitarian Air Services in Afghanistan

The European Union has announced a significant contribution of €4 million (approximately $4.6 million) to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) in Afghanistan. This funding, confirmed by the World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday, September 24, 2025, is crucial for maintaining the safe movement of aid workers and the delivery of essential relief supplies to some of Afghanistan's most remote and hard-to-reach communities.

The WFP, which manages UNHAS, highlighted that this contribution will ensure the continuation of flights that serve as a critical lifeline for humanitarian operations in the country.

UNHAS: A Critical Lifeline for Aid Delivery

UNHAS plays an indispensable role in Afghanistan, a country characterized by challenging terrain, insecurity, and often impassable road networks due to natural conditions. Air travel remains the safest and most reliable means of transport for humanitarian personnel and cargo.

According to the WFP, UNHAS currently serves more than 100 humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and diplomatic missions operating in Afghanistan. Since January of the current year, the service has conducted over 1,600 flights to 20 destinations, including 18 domestic and two international routes, facilitating the movement of both personnel and vital supplies.

François Goemans, Head of the EU's humanitarian aid office in Afghanistan, underscored the importance of this support, stating, 'Ensuring the safe transport of humanitarian personnel from UN agencies, NGOs and partners, as well as delivering life-saving cargo to remote areas, is essential, and UNHAS plays a critical role in making this possible.' He added, 'We remain committed to supporting the most vulnerable communities across Afghanistan.' John Aylieff, WFP Country Director for Afghanistan, echoed this sentiment, describing UNHAS as a 'lifeline' and noting, 'Behind every UNHAS flight is a story of hope — of aid delivered, lives saved, and communities connected to the support they urgently need.'

EU's Enduring Commitment to Afghanistan

This latest contribution is part of the European Union's broader and long-standing commitment to humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan. The EU is recognized as one of the largest donors to humanitarian operations in the country, having provided approximately €2 billion in humanitarian funding since 1994.

Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the EU has contributed more than €290 million to WFP's activities alone, making it one of the agency's top five supporters. The EU's humanitarian aid in Afghanistan for 2025 has already reached €161 million, channeled through vetted partner organizations to address critical needs such as emergency food assistance, healthcare, nutrition, and protection services. WFP had previously warned that UNHAS operations in Afghanistan were at risk of suspension earlier this year due to severe funding shortages, making the EU's timely intervention crucial for continuity.