Italy will keep helping the population of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the region but wants to ensure its humanitarian aid gets to those in need, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said Monday, according to sources.
"We will keep providing humanitarian assistance and will review this to channel as we can, especially towards countries in the region that are in need," Di Maio stated, according to the sources.
"As premier (Mario) Draghi said at the G7, we are ready to redirect funds originally earmarked for the Afghan armed forces," he added.
Di Maio referred to a virtual G7 summit held on 24 August.
The world must make sure Afghanistan's new rulers guarantee humanitarian access to the country and do not hinder the work of United Nations agencies operating there, Di Maio said.
"Aid should reach those who need it," Di Maio underlined.
Di Maio was speaking at a virtual meeting on Afghanistan attended by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the European Union and NATO and hosted by US secretary of state Antony Blinken.
