Afghanistan: International Assistance

Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator on a new humanitarian action plan for Afghanistan.

Mr. Douglas Alexander
On October 2, 2008, I wrote to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator regarding a new Humanitarian Action Plan for Afghanistan. I was encouraged by the recent visit of UN OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) officials to assist with the development and strengthening of the Humanitarian Action Plan.

OCHA will be sharing their findings with the Department for International Development (DFID)in the New Year.