§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she has made of the effect of the collapse of Taliban rule on the scale of population displacement in Afghanistan; [17173]
(2) what assessment she has made of the willingness of the Northern Alliance and other non-Taliban forces (a) to permit and (b) to assist in the distribution of humanitarian aid; [17175]
(3) what assessment she has made of the continuing need for air drops as a means of supplying emergency food aid to the Afghan people following the collapse of Taliban rule; [17174]
(4) what assessment she has made of the opportunities to render accelerated humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people as a result of the collapse of Taliban rule. [17172]
§ Clare ShortWhere there have been improvements in the security situation, some international staff of humanitarian agencies have returned to Afghanistan, and access to these parts of the country has increased. However, while the changing situation has resulted in some people in the north of the country being able to return to their homes, continued fighting in the south has caused further displacement. Because of ongoing security concerns, access to vulnerable groups in this regions is extremely limited.
The UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator met with the leadership of the United Front-led Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan on 20 November in Kabul. The UN has received assurances from the leadership that they will help to ensure the safety and security of UN national and international staff. Improved security is key to enhancing the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance to those in need. We, and the rest of the international community, will continue to urge the authorities in Afghanistan to assist with the relief effort, and to help stabilise the environment in which the humanitarian community are trying to operate.
Efforts are under way to maximise the delivery of assistance into Afghanistan, especially in the worst affected areas of the North. The World Food Programme is working to maximise the delivery of food by road, including in areas of Afghanistan worst affected by winter. WFP has launched its first airbridge from Tajikistan to Faizabad in Northern Afghanistan. Four flights a day are planned to use this route over the next few weeks, despatching a total of 1132W 2,000 tons of food, Airdrops are still being seriously considered as a fall-back measures. WFP, with assistance from my Department, are well advanced with contingency plans for air drops using identified drop zones. Again, this is heavily dependant on security considerations.