A significant new UK aid package of urgent food, water and medical help, including polio vaccinations for children, will save millions of lives in Afghanistan, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart announced.
An estimated 13.5 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian aid to make sure there is enough food for themselves and their families.
Mr. Stewart announced the UK aid package during a visit of the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani to London.
“The humanitarian need in Afghanistan is severe. Fighting and extreme drought have left millions of people hungry and desperately seeking medical help, which is why UK aid is responding with life-saving food, water and basic healthcare, including polio vaccinations. We are working closely with the Afghan government in response to increasing needs. But the UK cannot tackle this crisis alone, and other donors must now step up and follow our lead,” said International Development Secretary Rory Stewart.
In addition to the UK aid package of life-saving assistance including food, water, and healthcare for over five million people, the UK Department for International Development’s (DFID) emergency humanitarian support will:
- help over 400,000 people to have appointments with doctors or nurses
- vaccinate over 140,000 children under the age of five against polio
- provide support and training for individuals and families to protect themselves from climate shocks and conflict
In addition to meeting the needs of Afghans who have been displaced to other parts of the country, the UK aid support will target over a quarter of a million Afghans who have returned from neighboring countries and who are in urgent need of assistance.
Original source: DFID
Published on 17 June 2019
