Britain pledges new funding for Afghanistan
March 10th, 2008 - 12:17 am ICT by admin
Xinhua
London, March 9 (Xinhua) Britain has promised three million pounds (around $5.9 million) in new funding to Afghanistan to help meet the country’s growing food shortages. The UN and Afghan government had jointly appealed to the international community for 40 million pounds in food aid to alleviate malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Douglas Alexander, International Development Secretary, Sunday said: “Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world and least able to cope with spiralling food prices, combined with severe winter weather.
“Providing an immediate safety net will help avoid a humanitarian crisis and end the immediate suffering.”
A UN report said poor Afghans are struggling to buy food because of the rising wheat prices and in Kabul it is estimated that people spend 60 percent of their income on bread alone.
The 3 million pounds pledged by Britain, brings the total amount of the country’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to 124 million pounds since 2001.
Britain has also spent 490 million pounds on reconstruction and development in the country since 2001.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced last December another 450 million pounds to Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
Xinhua
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Tags: afghan government, alexander international, breastfeeding women, british prime minister, british prime minister gordon brown, douglas alexander, food aid, food prices, food shortages, gordon brown, humanitarian aid, humanitarian crisis, london march, malnutrition, poorest countries in the world, prime minister gordon brown, safety net, wheat prices, winter weather, xinhua