Brussels - The European Commission is to provide an additional 35 million euros (46.6 million dollars) in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to help it cope with years of drought, cold spells and a chronic lack of security, officials in Brussels said Wednesday.

The money, which comes on top of the 60 million euros pledged by the European Union's executive at a recent donor conference in The Hague, raises the total amount of EU aid to Afghanistan to 700 million euros for the 2007-10 period.

"Peace and stability in Afghanistan are still a long way off. Some projects have improved the lives of many Afghans but the recent deterioration of the security situation makes it difficult to carry out development and reconstruction. This, coupled with many years of drought, has led to an escalation in humanitarian needs," said EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel.

EU officials note that 28 humanitarian aid workers were killed last year alone and that roadside bombs make the monitoring of relief operations extremely difficult.

The aid will be used to provide air transport to aid workers, as well as for water and sanitation, shelter and food assistance projects.

Beneficiaries also include Afghan refugees who have fled to Pakistan and Iran. (dpa)