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WQ.402/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY THE CONNÉTABLE OF ST. MARTIN
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 11th OCTOBER 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 18th OCTOBER 2021
Question
Will the Minister state the total value of the funding commitment provided by the Government of Jersey to assist with the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan (including, but not limited to, that provided by Jersey Overseas Aid); will she provide a breakdown of the aid provided and advise how these funds will be applied; and will she further advise whether there is any commitment to provide ongoing funding in the longer term for this issue?
Answer
As far as I am aware, the only financial support offered to address the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan has been from the Island's international aid agency, Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA). As Minister for International Development, I can confirm that the following three allocations (totalling £375,000) have been made by JOA:
- British Red Cross, £100,000
Building on the Red Cross Movement's 30+ year history in the region, the response is centred around the reach and resources of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) who, in collaboration with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IRFC) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have targeted vital health care services, WASH and financial aid to vulnerable families since the escalation in violence.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), £150,000
UNHCR's emergency response prioritises preparedness in host countries (Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) as well as the immediate needs of around 600,000 new internally displaced persons in Afghanistan. The response will focus on protection, cash grants for persons with specific needs, psychosocial counselling for Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivors, shelter and core relief items such as sanitary materials and hygienic supplies.
- Street Child, £125,000
Street Child will provide protective services for 15,000 children in two Afghan provinces with the highest proportion of displaced persons caused by the ongoing conflict. The proposed project has 4 integrated interventions that address the immediate needs of vulnerable children, especially girls who are particularly at risk of early marriage, trafficking and exploitation.
No further commitments have been agreed by JOA Commissioners at this time. My officers are closely monitoring the situation and receive regular updates and reports from humanitarian actors including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNHCR. We will continue to assess the situation and respond appropriately based on the needs identified by our humanitarian partners and the resources available to me. However, without pre-judging the decisions of the Commissioners, the fact that Afghanistan is now one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world – and poised to get much worse over the winter – means future assistance from Jersey is very possible.