§ Mr. LazarowiczTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to provide assistance(a) directly and (b) through other agencies, to assist orphans in Afghanistan. [25910]
§ Clare ShortEvery effort is being made to minimise the suffering of all vulnerable Afghans, including children and orphans. Our aim is to support the UN-led international humanitarian and recovery effort, for which we have provided assistance of £60 million through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs since last September.
My Department has so far allocated around £10 million from these funds to UNICEF and other aid agencies to support activities focused on children, including orphans. We have also allocated over £2 million to the UN Trust Fund to support the Afghan Interim Administration, which includes a Department concerned with orphan affairs.