David Lammy calls for ‘comprehensive Afghanistan strategy’ as he and Preet Gill become the first UK politicians to visit since the Government’s calamitous withdrawal

Today (Wednesday, 8 June), David Lammy MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, will visit Afghanistan along with Preet Gill MP, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister for International Development.

No Government minister has visited Afghanistan since the disastrously implemented withdrawal of UK troops from Afghanistan last summer, which the Foreign Affairs Committee recently condemned as “a disaster, a betrayal of our allies, and weakens the trust that helps to keep British people safe”.

Lammy will highlight the urgent need for the UK Government to set out a comprehensive strategy for its engagement with Afghanistan to reduce the humanitarian catastrophe that has left more than 24.4 million people requiring humanitarian assistance to survive. He will raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis, and the UK’s ongoing duty to support the people of Afghanistan and help those left behind during last year’s withdrawal.

On the visit, Lammy will be briefed on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and visit a WHO-run children’s hospital, youth-centre, UNICEF-Child Protection programme, and displaced communities.

David Lammy MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, said:

“The Government downgraded the UK’s international reputation and made the whole world less safe with its calamitous handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer.

“Today, millions of Afghanistan’s civilians are suffering from starvation, with some even forced to sell body parts to feed their families.

“The UK Government’s woeful lack of leadership that was so visible last year is continuing as it ignores the humanitarian catastrophe. Ministers must urgently set out a comprehensive strategy for engaging with Afghanistan to support the millions of civilians who are starving, restore the 0.7% commitment to international aid, and lead the world by convening an emergency global food summit with the UN.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The visit will has been facilitated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It is a purely humanitarian visit and there will not be any meetings with Taliban officials or representatives.