The European Union has allocated €31 million ($33 million) to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support Afghanistan's health sector.

The EU said in a statement on Thursday that €16 million has been allocated to the WHO and €15 million to UNFPA.

The aid is to improve the provision of quality health services for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, and expand reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health services in Afghanistan.

This union also emphasized that the aid will support mothers, children and teenagers in the remote areas of Afghanistan.

EU described the health condition of pregnant women, babies and children in Afghanistan as dire and added that the death rate among them is at the top of the world list.

Every two hours, a mother dies from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, the statement said.

Acting Minister of Energy and Water Abdul Latif Mansour says the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project is vital in expanding the scope of trade and energy export between Afghanistan and China.

Speaking at the third meeting of energy ministers of BRI in China on Wednesday, Mansour expressed hope that Afghanistan could join this intercontinental construction project.

He stated Afghanistan has significant untouched natural resources and efforts to coordinate Afghanistan's energy sector with China can unlock these resources for the benefit of both countries and support regional energy security.

“Afghanistan is a country located along Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East, which creates an important land bridge for regional connectivity. This position makes Afghanistan a key partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative, as it can facilitate land trade links and energy corridors connecting China to Europe,” Mansour said.

He added that Afghanistan's constructive partnership is for China's long-term strategic vision to increase connectivity in Asia, Europe and Africa as a belt and road.

According to him, Afghanistan can play an important role in supporting China's broad geopolitical and economic goals through cooperation in energy, trade and infrastructure development.

Referring to the energy production capacities in the country, he stated that based on the prepared plans, Afghanistan will provide its energy needs from domestic sources.

Mansour stressed that the opening of the Wakhan Corridor will further expand the relations between Afghanistan and China.

This route connects the northeast of Afghanistan to the Xinjiang region of China and opens a new window for trade and energy cooperation.

BRICS member countries called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to lift the ban on education for women and girls and to preserve the fundamental rights of all Afghan citizens, including women, girls and ethnic minorities.

According to a joint statement issued by the BRICS nations, more "visible and tangible actions" should be taken by the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan to ensure that the country's soil is not used by terrorists.

The member nations stated that they support an Afghanistan free from "terrorist, independent and united" groups, and the Islamic Emirate is asked to take immediate and concrete measures in this regard.

These countries also pointed to the effective role of regional meetings with the participation of Afghanistan's neighboring countries and welcomed the efforts of these countries to facilitate the process of resolving the crisis in the country.

BRICS member countries said they believe that the participation of neighboring countries in the process of solving the Afghan crisis can help stabilize security and stability in the region.

The three-day meeting of the BRICS organization took place this week in Kazan, Russia. 

A number of country leaders, including presidents of China, India, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia attended.

The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also present. 

The summit wraps up on Thursday.