HC Deb 04 December 2002 vol 395 cc850-1W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what new steps she is taking to ensure that the people of Afghanistan will have sufficient supplies and resources to survive the winter. [84145]

Clare Short

In September DFID provided an additional £11 million to be disbursed to address humanitarian needs over the winter months. This money has now been disbursed. The majority has been provided to support the work of major UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, UNHCR, UNICEF and the UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC), as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross and is intended to help fill gaps in relief assistance for food, water, health care, clothing and shelter. The funding to the UNJLC is to help the UN clear routes in order to gain access to vulnerable people otherwise cut off by the winter snows and poor roads.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much economic aid was paid to Afghanistan in 2001 and what the projected figure is for 2002; and if she will make a statement. [84195]

Clare Short

During 2001 all assistance given to Afghanistan by the UK was for humanitarian activities. In the current financial year we have allocated £65 million to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. So far we have disbursed over £52 million, this includes £10 million to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund and over £12 million to meet repayments of Afghan arrears to the international financial institutions.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had on the subject of the transfer of aid to Afghanistan from humanitarian to reconstruction projects; and if she will make a statement. [84199]

Clare Short

During my recent visit to Afghanistan I had several discussions with Afghan Ministers and UN agencies regarding the transition from humanitarian to reconstruction assistance. This needs to be managed with care because the transitional Administration has very limited capacity to deliver services outside Kabul and humanitarian needs remain considerable not least because the south of Afghanistan is suffering its fifth year of drought. My Department is providing £10 million to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund. We are also including a contribution of approximately £12.5 million to help Afghanistan clear its arrears to the international financial institutions so that it can access concessional resources for reconstruction assistance.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what appraisal she has made of the level of aid going to Afghanistan in relation to(a) the number of refugees returning and (b) the number of school children. [84200]

Clare Short

Since the start of 2002, nearly two million refugees are reported to have returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries; in that same period approximately three million children have returned to school. From October 2001 to December 2002, UNHCR have received over $245 million of funding, resulting in their appeal for funds being just under 91 per cent, funded. UNICEF, which is providing, among other things, support to education in Afghanistan, is reporting that their appeal for 2002 has raised just over $137 million, which equates to 72 per cent, of funds requested. In addition to this, funding money is also being directed to education and refugee support via other routes, including bilateral support and through NGOs. In comparison to donor appeals in previous crises the appeals for Afghanistan are in the most part well funded.

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if it is her Department's policy to continue to give most aid to non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan. [84286]

Clare Short

Both the UN agencies and the NGOs have done an excellent job in delivering much needed humanitarian assistance quickly to Afghanistan. To date we have directed the majority of our aid through the UN system and NGOs. We have also placed £10 million in the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) to provide the Afghan Transitional Administration with funds to support what it has identified as priorities for development. However, most of these funds are being spent on pay for very small salaries for large numbers of civil servants that provide very limited services to the people of Afghanistan. We hope that as the Transitional Administration continues to build its capacity it will be better placed in the future to channel development assistance direct and focus it on areas of greatest need.