Afghanistan (Hansard, 13 June 2003)

§ Mrs. Spelman
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan and its effect on humanitarian and reconstruction work. [115403]

§ Hilary Benn
The security situation continues to cause concern, and is hampering the operations of NGOs and UN agencies in the south and eastern provinces of Afghanistan. Reconstruction projects are continuing, however, although a lack of security may affect efforts to refurbish roads in some parts of the south and east.
The deployment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) is designed to facilitate improved security in the regions and extend the authority of the Afghan Transitional Administration. The US have already deployed three PRTs to Gardez, Bamiyan and Kunduz provinces. The UK has recently announced its intention to lead a PRT in Mazaar-l-Shariff in the north of Afghanistan.

§ Dr. Tonge
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development which non-governmental organisations have recently left Afghanistan citing security as their reason for evacuation. [115620]

§ Hilary Benn
I am not aware of any nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) which have left Afghanistan due to the deteriorating security situation in parts of the south. In southern Afghanistan, particularly following the killing of an international ICRC worker in March 2003, some NGOs temporarily suspended their operations in the more remote areas and withdrew, either back to the regional centre at Kandahar, or to the capital, Kabul. Most of these, such as Mercy Corps International (MCI), Oxfam, Tear Fund, Action Contre La Faim (ACF) and Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), do, however, continue to operate. The major change as result of insecurity has been in their mode of operation, forcing them to concentrate on more secure areas around Kandahar.

§ Mr. Battle
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development which British non governmental organisations are working on reconstruction in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [115927]
255W

§ Hilary Benn
The following non-governmental organisations are registered in the United Kingdom and working on Afghanistan reconstruction:

CARE;

CAFOD—through CARITAS member agencies with offices in Afghanistan supporting local NGOs;

Actionaid;

Afghanaid;

Islamic Relief;

Joint Development Associates Ltd;

Tearfund;

Focus;

Hope Worldwide;

Ockenden;

Mercy Corps;

Muslim Hands;

Oxfam;

Aga Khan Foundation; and

Christian Aid.

§ Mr. Laurence Robertson
To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much money promised by the Government to help rebuild Afghanistan has yet to be donated; and if he will make a statement. [116132]

Agency workers

Financial year Agency staff numbers in DFID London Agency staff spend in DFID London £ Agency staff numbers in DFID East Kilbride Agency staff spend in East Kilbride £ Total of agency staff for both locations Total spend on agency staff for both locations £

2001–02 210 752,780 6 36,957 216 789,737

2002–03 131 827,166 49 277,642 180 1,104,808

Agency workers
Financial year	Agency staff numbers in DFID London	Agency staff spend in DFID London £	Agency staff numbers in DFID East Kilbride	Agency staff spend in East Kilbride £	Total of agency staff for both locations	Total spend on agency staff for both locations £
2001–02	210	752,780	6	36,957	216	789,737
2002–03	131	827,166	49	277,642	180	1,104,808