EU allocates €10 million for mental health and drug services in Afghanistan

The European Union has given 10 million euros to help with mental health issues among the Afghan people as part of their ongoing humanitarian aid efforts.

On Thursday, the European Union announced they will allocate 10 million euros. This funding is intended to be used through the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Afghanistan, as stated in their official declaration.

The statement outlines that this additional financial aid ensures broader access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services by the World Health Organization in Afghanistan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The European Union also emphasizes that the 10 million euros, equivalent to 800 million Afghanis, will be directed towards vulnerable segments of Afghan society, particularly women and girls.

“The EU feels very strongly about improving the health and well-being of the people in Afghanistan”, affirmed Raffaella Iodice, EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan. “It is important that those who struggle with mental health and drug use disorder have access to comprehensive health services and are helped to re-integrate into society. That is why the EU has decided to increase our funding to our partners, WHO and UNODC. With this additional funding, more people in need will be reached,” the statement said.

The 10 million euros allocated by the European Union explicitly targets mental health rehabilitation and substance abuse in Afghanistan, where the European Union reports nearly 4 million drug users, accounting for 10% of the population.

This crisis has strained most of the country’s drug treatment centres, leaving drug users with limited access to treatment.

The post EU allocates €10 million for mental health and drug services in Afghanistan appeared first on Khaama Press.