Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan; and in particular, what steps they are taking to protect children in that country.

In January, the Foreign Secretary announced £97 million humanitarian assistance, delivering on the UK's promise to double UK aid to Afghanistan to £286 million in 2021-22. We have now disbursed over £176 million to Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in the region to address the most urgent humanitarian needs. We are working closely with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to ensure children have increased access to life-saving health, nutrition and protection services, including supporting over 224,000 children with lifesaving treatment for severe acute malnutrition in Afghanistan.