UK pledges £155 million to Afghanistan in 2021

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Kingdom (UK) has pledged up to £155 million in development aid for 2021 at the Afghanistan 2020 Conference in Geneva, a statement from the British Embassy in Kabul said on Tuesday.

The aid package comes as a demonstration of its commitment to Afghan peace, security and prosperity. This is in addition to the UK pledge made last month of up to £70 million for security in Afghanistan.

The new money will support stability and the delivery of essential services for the people of Afghanistan. It will ensure more girls receive an education, help to end preventable deaths of mothers and children, and provide food and medical supplies to Afghan people facing the severe winter, made worse by COVID-19.

The funding package will improve peace and stability: improving government systems, strengthening infrastructure, and expanding health and education services, creating the jobs and investment needed for long-term economic independence.

The pledges made by the UK and other international donors take into account the current situation with the Afghan peace talks, and the ongoing efforts towards reaching a sustainable, inclusive, political settlement.

British Ambassador to Afghanistan, Alison Blake, said: “UK support to Afghanistan over the last 19 years has led to significant progress on education, healthcare, gender equality, governance and more. The country is at a critical juncture with peace talks, and I am proud that we are maintaining our aid commitment at this time, showcasing Britain as a force for good in the world.

“The Afghan people have known conflict and struggle for too long. This announcement reiterates our commitment to paving a more stable and peaceful future for Afghanistan.”

As one of the country’s leading humanitarian donors, the UK has recently contributed £15 million to the UN’s World Food Programme, to ensure more than 870,000 vulnerable people affected by food insecurity or COVID-19 do not go hungry during the challenging winter months in Afghanistan.

During the Afghanistan 2020 Conference, the UK co-hosted an anti-corruption side event, attended by senior Afghan officials and the international community. The meeting reaffirmed wholehearted UK support to practices that promote transparency, empower civil society to call out corruption, and ultimately ensure progress on political commitment to ensuring open, inclusive and equitable governance. The UK fully supports any efforts that seek to eliminate corruption in Afghanistan, to improve the lives of Afghans.

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