In Afghanistan, almost two thirds of the population live below the poverty line, and more than three million children are malnourished.
For years, Luxembourg has been working with partners such as the International Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Now that the Taliban have regained power, the Luxembourg government is keen to continue its commitment. Some €2.3 million have been invested this year.
Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs Franz Fayot explained that the situation regarding food security will worsen. Other problems will arise with regard to the health crisis and the refugee crisis.
Between 2001 and 2020, Luxembourg's Directorate for Development Cooperation has disbursed a total of €48 million to Afghanistan.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
The Luxembourg government will not discontinue its financial support for humanitarian purposes in Afghanistan, thus following a similar decision taken by Germany.
However, the Ministry for Development Cooperation intends to check whether the projects supported so far can still be continued in the same form in this new context.
MP Claude Wiseler, the CSV's foreign affairs spokesman, supports this position, while the spokesperson of the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr), MP Fernand Kartheiser, stated that he would have preferred to stop the aid altogether.
While Kartheiser does not question the fact that humanitarian aid is indispensable in Afghanistan, he pointed out that now that the Taliban have taken over, there is too great a risk that the money will not be used for its intended purposes.
The MP explained that his party would have preferred to "take a break" until the matter is clarified. Once that would be the case, it would be imperative to quickly help those in need. Simply sending money through unknown channels is, however, not an option, Kartheiser stressed.
MP Nathalie Oberweis from the Left Party (Déi Lénk) has a different view. For her, the aid cannot be stopped under any circumstances.
Wiseler argued in a nuanced way, stating that it is "logical" that Luxembourg should continue to support the population. But it is also obvious that a check must be made to see whether the money is actually arriving. Then a precise follow-up must be carried out. However, Wiseler also stated that he wonders how long these organisations can continue to work, seeing as the situation is so dangerous that it can quickly become a problem.
The BBC has reportedly gained access to internal UN documents, which show that the Taliban have started hunting for collaborators, i.e. people who have worked for Western institutions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn stated that as a first step, Luxembourg wants to take in 12 of the people concerned. This is a "moral obligation" towards those people in Afghanistan who have assisted the EU and NATO in recent years, according to the Minister.
Wiseler agreed, adding that it is a logical decision to evacuate people who will otherwise be exposed to "death or serious danger".
According to the CSV MP, Afghans involved in the defence of human rights, who have defended Western values, should also be protected.
Kartheiser argued differently, referring to "several European ministers" who want to create security zones in the region around Afghanistan, where all those who are threatened by the Taliban could be welcomed "in the best possible conditions".
According to Kartheiser, everything should be done to "avoid a big new wave of refugees in Europe".
