17 September 2008
The Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, has announced an extra £5 million of food aid to the Government of Afghanistan.
The money will be channelled through the World Food Programme of the United Nations and brings to £11 million the total of food aid pledged to Afghanistan by the British Government since the beginning of the year (2008).
The charity Oxfam estimates that up to 5 million Afghans now face severe food shortages brought about by high food prices, drought and other factors that increase vulnerability.
Mr. Alexander made the announcement in a wide ranging speech on the future of Afghanistan to academics, military leaders and foreign affairs specialists at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London today (Wednesday, September 17th).
He said: "Afghan citizens look to the state for protection against shocks such as drought and natural disaster. Oxfam currently estimates that up to 5 million Afghans face severe food shortages. The Afghan Government does not have the capacity or the resources to respond to this alone – instead it has launched an appeal, together with the World Food Programme, for international assistance.
"The United Kingdom was among the first countries to pledged assistance to that appeal. Yet it is clear that the international response is falling short at a crucial time. As we approach the bitter Afghan winter, as many as half a million pregnant and breastfeeding women, and more than a million children under the age of five, are facing malnutrition.
"That is why today I can announce that the United Kingdom will provide a further £5 million to support the World Food Programme to help some four and a half million Afghans to find the food that they and their families need."
Contact DFID press officer David Rigby on 0207 023 0821 or 07826 892406, or e-mail d-rigby@dfid.gov.uk.
DFID provided £3 million funding to the World Food Programme (WFP) in response to an emergency appeal in January 2008. In light of the worsening humanitarian situation, the Government of Afghanistan and the UN issued a further joint emergency appeal in July 2008. In anticipation of this further appeal, DFID pledged £3 million to WFP in Paris in June 2008. An increase in this commitment to £8 million would bring our total commitment to £11 million.
DFID is also spending £5.5 million on agricultural recovery to provide seeds and fertiliser for the most vulnerable farmers.
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