EU Emergency Summit Confronts Afghanistan’s Spiraling Humanitarian Crisis
The European Union’s fourth humanitarian summit on Afghanistan opened in Brussels today amid what officials describe as an unprecedented regional emergency, Khaama Press reported. With neighboring countries accelerating forced deportations, the bloc announced €150 million in emergency funding while warning of catastrophic consequences if international coordination fails.
Iran continues to expel between 2,000 and 5,000 Afghan migrants daily, according to verified border reports. The International Organization for Migration confirms 1.5 million involuntary returns since 2024, with 80% occurring under coercion. Parallel deportations from Pakistan have left thousands stranded at border crossings after authorities confiscated their assets, including life savings and property documents.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič outlined the aid package during this morning’s plenary session: “Our €126 million Afghanistan allocation will address immediate starvation risks, while €11 million tranches for Iran and Pakistan aim to stabilize refugee populations before further displacement occurs.” The funding includes a landmark €36 million partnership with UNHCR to establish protection centers along major migration routes.
Mi Hyung Park, IOM’s Afghanistan mission chief, provided sobering testimony: “These aren’t voluntary returns. Families describe being rounded up at dawn, their shops shuttered, children pulled from schools. Many arrive with nothing but the clothes they wore during arrest.” Satellite imagery shows sprawling tent cities emerging near Herat and Kandahar, where returnees face winter temperatures without insulation.
The summit continues through Wednesday, with closed-door negotiations scheduled between EU officials and representatives from Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian states. Diplomatic sources indicate discussions will focus on establishing deportation moratoriums until minimum humanitarian standards can be implemented.
