Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to resume development assistance to Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has played a leading role in the release of the almost $2 billion funds held within the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and Asian Development Bank to support the Afghan people. We have led international conversations on support within the education and livelihoods sectors and are working closely with international partners on future engagement in Afghanistan. We have committed £286 million in aid to Afghanistan this financial year (2022/23), matching the previous year's commitment. Our aid includes support to the UN's Humanitarian Appeal, to UN Agencies such as WFP and UNICEF and NGOs including AfghanAid and the International Rescue Committee. Our aid is providing life-saving support to the most vulnerable, especially women and girls.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the £1.5 billion increase in the UK's climate finance pledge will result in a reduction of spending on international humanitarian programming.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Many countries with the highest levels of humanitarian need are also among those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our adaptation funding, including the £1.5 billion in 2025 announced at COP27, will include activities to prepare for and respond to climate-linked disasters and tackle food and water insecurity, helping to build the resilience of communities and reduce humanitarian needs over time.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Afghanistan continues to face a serious and worsening humanitarian crisis, affecting more than half of the population. Over 28 million people are expected to be in humanitarian need in 2023, including an estimated 19.9 million people who lack access to sufficient food with 92% of households struggling to meet daily food needs. Some 4.7 million children and women are currently at risk of acute malnutrition. On 11 January 2022, the UN launched an appeal for $4.4 billion for 2022, the largest humanitarian appeal on record, reflecting the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge ahead. The UK has played a leading role in responding. On 31 March 2022, the UK co-hosted a donor conference with the UN, Qatar and Germany at which the UK committed £286 million for this financial year. The conference raised over $2.4 billion for the UN's humanitarian appeal.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Humanitarian Plan for Afghanistan is fully funded.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our commitment to Afghanistan is enduring and work on priority areas, including responding to the humanitarian crisis, remains one of our highest priorities. On 11 January 2022, the UN launched an appeal for $4.4 billion for 2022, the largest humanitarian appeal on record, reflecting the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge ahead. The UK has played a leading role in responding to the humanitarian crisis. On 31 March 2022, the UK co-hosted a donor conference with the UN, Qatar and Germany. At this, the UK committed £286 million humanitarian and development assistance for Afghanistan in this financial year, matching the previous year's commitment. The conference raised over $2.4 billion for the UN's humanitarian appeal. $2.26 billion has been provided to the appeal so far. This is the second largest global contribution in 2022 after Ukraine and we continue to work closely with other donors to ensure funding is available for the humanitarian response in Afghanistan.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that girls of all ages can return to school in Afghanistan.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to upholding women and girls' rights in Afghanistan, including the right to an education. We have repeatedly condemned the Taliban's decisions to restrict girls' access to education, including through public statements and UN Security Council and Human Rights Council resolutions, most recently on 19 October. We continue to press the Taliban on women and girls' rights in our political engagement. We are providing education funding through NGO partners, the UN system, and multilateral funds including the World Bank Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, Education Cannot Wait and the Global Partnership for Education.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the charges brought against Mohammad El Halabi by the Israeli authorities.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK is aware of the sentencing of former Gaza World Vision Director Mohammad Halabi. We are aware of issues regarding the trial process and are engaged with the Israeli authorities on these issues. We will monitor Mr Halabi's appeal closely.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made for the implications of his policies of the sentencing of Palestinian World Vision aid worker, Mohammad El Halabi, by the Israeli authorities.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK is aware of the sentencing of former Gaza World Vision Director Mohammad Halabi. We are aware of issues regarding the trial process and are engaged with the Israeli authorities on these issues. We will monitor Mr Halabi's appeal closely.