AID TO AFGHANISTAN

That this House welcomes the £600 million of aid pledged in June 2008 to Afghanistan by the UK Government up to 2012-13; notes the concern of many in Afghanistan that international aid is not sufficient to deal with the growing humanitarian problems in the country; further notes that while the military and political situation in Afghanistan rightly draws significant media coverage the looming winter famine, which the Royal United Services Institute estimates has left 8.4 million people suffering from chronic food security, has not been given the same focus; believes that a secure and prosperous Afghanistan is essential to the fight against international terrorism; and calls on the Government to investigate the possibility of bringing forward aid which may be most needed in the forthcoming months.