The west has a moral duty to help those facing starvation. We demand that the British government lead the way
- Stephen Kinnock MP is shadow minister for Asia and the Pacific
For 20 years the Afghan economy has been almost entirely dependent on financial support from the international donor community, delivered to the Afghan government to cover public sector running costs such as the salaries of doctors, nurses, teachers, judges, police officers and civil servants. This international development assistance accounted for 43% of Afghanistan’s GDP and 75% of its public expenditure at the point when Kabul fell, so it is little wonder that the Afghan economy is now on the brink of total collapse following the international community’s understandable refusal to channel funding through the Taliban.
Meanwhile the entire Afghan banking system has shut down, leaving Afghans with little access to money beyond importing suitcases full of cash.
Stephen Kinnock MP is shadow minister for Asia and the Pacific
