Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to encourage UN agencies to support non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan that have had to suspend their activities in that country.

The UK recognises that some partners or organisations may choose to either partially or fully suspend activities for a variety of reasons in the current context. Where non-governmental organization (NGO) partners have had to suspend activity, either partially or fully, FCDO is continuing to cover staff salaries and other critical associated operational costs and is encouraging UN agencies to do the same. We are also working with other donors to ensure we maintain a common position regarding our support to organisations who have suspended activities.