§ Baroness Rawlingsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to combat food insecurity in Afghanistan. [HL19]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)DfID is funding a project aimed at identifying areas of food insecurity in Afghanistan, and the causes for this. This information will be vital to the Afghan Government and donors in tackling food insecurity and ensuring appropriate targeting of assistance in the future.
DfID programmes which support improvements in rural livelihoods are helping farmers to try out new crops and agricultural methods. This will assist in improving yields and producing healthier crops, giving farmers sufficient food to feed their own families, as well as have a surplus available for sale.
This year DfID has committed £2.5 million and £0.5 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration respectively for their assistance to refugees and internally displaced people, as well as making a contribution of £3 million to the joint Afghan Government and UN appeal for areas in the south and west affected by drought.