Fifth Report - Afghanistan: UK support for aid workers and the Afghan people

The Government stands by its duty of care obligations to those whom it employs directly and publishes travel advice to reflect the security situation in each country.

The government already publishes travel advice reflecting the security situation, available to all including external partners, and committed to consistent safety and security advice.

The government has already begun resettling families under the ‘first pathway’ of the ACRS, with plans to launch the ‘third pathway’ as soon as possible, under which the government will consider eligible at-risk British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening alumni for resettlement.

The government rejects the recommendation and believes it is right that those evacuated under Operation Pitting were offered immediate sanctuary and support in the UK, including some being resettled under the ACRS.

The response is empty.

The government states that the initial target of resettling 5000 people during Year 1 of the ACRS will be exceeded, and that the scheme is expected to resettle up to 20000 people in total, but does not address any of the specific recommendations.

The FCDO phases aid against developing needs, partners' capability to implement, and responds to aid agencies' appeals, ensuring funds are spent responsibly, engaging with partners and providing funding.

The government will publish a second WMS providing details of disbursement for FY 2021/22 and publish financial disbursements on Development Tracker, but without full partner details for security reasons.

Information and documents relating to the majority of funding in 2021/22 has been redacted and re-uploaded to Development Tracker, and new or recently amended programmes are currently being redacted for publication as soon as possible.

The government states that all financial contributions to partners will be published on the Development Tracker within three months, and in most cases much more quickly, with any potentially sensitive information redacted, as the Tracker is directly linked with FCDO's financial systems.

The government has been discussing the banking crisis with international partners and the UN since September 2021, secured UNSCR 2615, passed this into domestic legislation, updated UK guidance, and worked to provide assurance to financial institutions, and established mechanisms including co-leading a working group with the World Bank.

The government states that it regularly makes clear to the Taliban that humanitarian aid requires, among other things, no interference with humanitarian operations, unconditional access for aid workers, and the full access for women and girls to services.

The Government states that it regularly consults with Afghan women to inform its policy and programming response, aims for at least 50% of aid recipients to be women and girls, funds child protection and gender-based violence services, and will continue to meet with Afghan women.

The government continues to consult with aid organisations in the Tri-Sector Group, including on guidance for NGOs working in countries such as Afghanistan, and welcomes the engagement of banks and NGOs with regard to the guidance on sanctions.

The UK will have the opportunity to propose edits to Resolution 2615 when it is reviewed within a year of being adopted, but any edits will need to be negotiated with other members of the Security Council and adopted without a Permanent Member veto.

The UK supports the release of funds from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund as soon as possible and continues to work with international partners to support the World Bank in unlocking and repurposing existing funding.