Press Release
3 March 2009
Britain increases commitment to Afghanistan aid to £510 million
The UK is to commit an additional £50m to fight poverty in Afghanistan over the next four years, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander announced today.
The pledge brings the total to £510m, which will go towards creating jobs, fighting the drugs trade and helping develop the Afghan Government.
The additional £50m will finance two crucial strands of development work.
- A further £32 million for large scale infrastructure projects in Helmand where British troops are fighting the Taleban. Projects include a major road linking the towns of Lashkar Gah and Gereshk. The money will also contribute to building a hydro-electric plant in order to triple the power supply for the bustling commercial town of Gereshk.
- A further £18 million for agriculture and rural enterprise development to help provide more jobs and economic opportunities for young men and women in rural areas of Afghanistan.
Douglas Alexander, on a visit to Afghanistan said:
“This four-year promise to contribute £510 million to Afghanistan reaffirms our long term commitment to helping this proud country recover from 30 years of war.
“I was pleased to be able to tell President Karzai today that we are adding to our pledge by giving £50 million over four years for counter narcotic measures and big infrastructure projects.
“There is no doubt that the lives of ordinary Afghans have improved immeasurably since the Taleban were overthrown in 2001. And they face a crucial year with a vote to elect a new president. We wish the people of Afghanistan well for the future and are happy to play our part in their development.”
Notes to editors
- DFID initially pledged (at Paris in June 2008) to contribute £460m to cover the remaining four years of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy until 2012/13 supporting the ANDS priorities of state building and governance, economic management and legal livelihoods.
- The DFID four-year commitment will be reflected in our new Country Plan for Afghanistan to be launched shortly which will spell out in more detail our work with the Government of Afghanistan.
