Finland ends humanitarian cooperation with Afghanistan

Finland stops humanitarian cooperation with Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry reports. Finland has provided humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in the amount of 28 million euros annually.

The resumption of aid will be assessed with the international community and development organizations as the situation in Afghanistan becomes clearer.

– We must follow the development of the situation. Finland is not going to abandon the Afghan people, their children, women, men, journalists, doctors, sappers or human rights defenders, assures the Minister for Development of Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari (SDP)

International organizations report food and water shortages in Afghanistan.

Parliamentary Committee to Meet in Emergency Session

The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow due to the situation in Afghanistan. The main issue will be the evacuation of Finnish citizens from the country.

The Committee will hear a report by Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto , who is taking part in an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers today. All Finnish diplomats were evacuated from Afghanistan yesterday. Finland also plans to evacuate 170 Afghans who previously collaborated with the Finns.