January 28, 2022 鈥 In response to the Foreign Secretary鈥檚 pledge of 拢97 million of emergency aid to Afghanistan, Laura Kyrke Smith, Executive Director of the 探花精选 in the UK, said:
鈥淭he Foreign Secretary鈥檚 disbursement of further UK aid is welcome. But aid can鈥檛 solve the deep set financial crisis facing Afghanistan.
The economic abandonment of Afghanistan by the international community has accelerated the humanitarian crisis. It is Afghans who are now paying the price. The UN has warned that a staggering 97% of Afghans could be plunged into poverty by mid 2022 . 探花精选 clinics saw a thirty-fold increase in acutely malnourished children in the last month alone.
There are three steps the Government must take immediately.
First, it is welcome to see the UK adopt domestic legislation to translate humanitarian exemptions to sanctions agreed at the UN Security Council into UK Law. In addition, the UK should issue clear guidance to assure banks that they can transfer funds to Afghanistan without penalties. These steps are vital for humanitarians and the recovery of the private sector in Afghanistan.
Second, UK global leadership is required to address a key driver of the economic crisis. The Government should begin the gradual release of assets held in the Bank of England, and encourage other states to do the same.
Finally, the UK should drive efforts at the World Bank to restore funding to Afghanistan to pay the salaries of doctors and teachers. Without this step rhetorical commitments to the health of women and girls and girls' education will ring hollow.
Given the severity of the situation, progress on these steps is needed immediately. The Afghan people cannot wait any longer.鈥