First EU UN Aid Reaches Afghanistan by Rail
In a milestone for regional connectivity, the first European shipment of United Nations aid reached Afghanistan on May 29 via the Khaf-Herat railway, marking a new chapter in humanitarian delivery routes.
Eight freight wagons loaded with powdered milk arrived at Roznak railway station in western Afghanistan, completing a long journey that began in France. The cargo transited multiple European nations, entered Turkey, crossed Iran, and passed into Afghanistan through the Shamtigh-e-Khaf border, utilizing the Khaf-Herat rail line.
The shipment, coordinated by the Afghanistan Railway Development Consortium, represents the first time European-origin aid has reached the country via this railway corridor, underscoring its growing strategic importance for regional logistics and humanitarian supply chains.
According to Consortium CEO Reza Shahriari, the successful delivery underscores the viability of the Khaf-Herat line as a secure and efficient corridor for aid and trade. The railway is increasingly seen as a crucial infrastructure project linking Afghanistan with Iran and beyond to continental Europe.
Experts believe this transit route could reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on road-based aid delivery and ease logistical bottlenecks for international organizations.