Britain pledges 340m aid to Afghanistan ahead of donors’ conference – The Observer

Britain on Tuesday pledged another 286 million pounds (340 million euros) in emergency aid to Afghanistan, ahead of Thursday’s United Nations donors’ conference.

The funding the UK government is mobilizing is aimed at food and medical care, but also basic services, improving access to health care and helping farmers weather the effects of drought.

London stressed that the money would be channeled through the United Nations and non-governmental organizations and would not pass directly through the hands of the Taliban regime.

The United Kingdom is a co-organizer with the United Nations, Qatar and Germanyfrom Thursday’s donors’ conference, which will seek international support for humanitarian aid, Protecting girls and women and supporting stability in the region.

The work is expected to be led by Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.

The United Nations wants to raise 4400 million dollars (4 billion euros), and it is estimated that around 10 million children across Afghanistan are in dire need of humanitarian assistance to survive.

The UK will raise awareness in countries to support the Afghan people and help pave the way for life-saving food, shelter and medical supplies. Together with allies and partners, Secretary of State Liz Truss promised in a statement that we will and will do more to help Afghanistan.

The UK already has 286 million pounds (340 million euros) in aid to Afghanistan in the 2021-22 fiscal year, double what was initially planned.

Since the Taliban came to power last August, and with the expiration of international aid, which accounts for 75% of the Afghan budget, the country has plunged into a deep financial crisis, exacerbating an already disastrous humanitarian situation after four decades of conflict and recent drought. ..

The head of the United Nations Development Program, Achim Steiner, warned on Tuesday that aid from the international community could be directed towards other humanitarian crises in the world if the Taliban delay in reopening girls’ secondary schools in the country. Afghanistan.

The international community has made the right to education for all an obstacle in negotiations for assistance and recognition of the Islamic fundamentalist regime.