Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2022 to Question 119771, what steps her Department is taking to help accelerate the dispersal of emergency food, healthcare, shelter, water and protection to vulnerable Afghans.

On 28 January, the Foreign Secretary announced £97 million humanitarian assistance. We are now delivering on the UK's promise to double UK aid to Afghanistan to £286 million in 2021-22. Afghanistan is now the world's most severe food security crisis and UK Aid will provide emergency food assistance for 4.47 million people. We have now disbursed over £176 million to Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in the region to address the most urgent humanitarian needs. The UK government continues to work closely with the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to ensure that UK aid benefits Afghans in need while meeting our international obligations. We are working with them to assess the changing situation on the ground and assess needs. We deliver through UN agencies and NGOs who have a track record of delivering in challenging circumstances and who are continuing to ensure vital aid reaches those who need it most.

The UK also played a key role in pressing for a resolution establishing a humanitarian exception under the UN Afghanistan sanctions regime. On 27 January 2022, the UK government laid legislation to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2615. This will save lives and reduce the impediments faced by humanitarian agencies.