Kabul, July 13: The UK should consider reinstating its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan to support Afghan women and monitor British aid effectiveness, according to Hugh Bayley, a commissioner for the official UK aid watchdog.
During his visit to Kabul in May, Bayley observed that Afghan women and NGOs would welcome the return of Western diplomats to advocate for women’s rights to the Taliban. He released a report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) on the UK’s aid programme in Afghanistan, the second largest managed by Britain.
The UK withdrew its diplomatic staff from Afghanistan when the Taliban took over in 2021. Since then, Afghan bank assets held overseas have been frozen, and the economy has plummeted. Despite this, the UK has sent approximately $2.9bn (£2.3bn) in aid, mainly to NGOs rather than Taliban-run ministries.
Bayley emphasized the importance of having a British presence in Afghanistan, supported by NGOs and regular visits from the UK mission in Doha. He noted, “The UK’s £150m programme in Afghanistan is our second biggest bilateral programme, and ICAI believes that if you are spending that much British taxpayer money, you need eyes on the ground to ensure it’s properly used.”
He further explained that without a ground presence, Western aid efforts would be less effective. The UK government aims for 50% of its aid to reach women, but Bayley warned that achieving this target is impossible without being on the ground to monitor progress.
Bayley highlighted the deteriorating situation for Afghan women, with the number of trained midwives declining due to Taliban-imposed gender restrictions. He shared that women in local NGOs are courageously resisting these restrictions and continuing to work, including midwives who insist on their necessity for infant survival.
He also expressed concern about the mental health crisis among school-age girls denied education by the Taliban, noting reports of severe distress and suicidal tendencies. Furthermore, women face difficulties accessing food aid due to the high cost of taxis and restrictions on public transport use.
Despite these challenges, Bayley praised the resilience and bravery of Afghan women and the UK’s commitment to diverting aid to NGOs. He called for the world to remember Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and stressed the need for sustainable development alongside humanitarian aid.
The ICAI report also highlighted the impact of climate change on Afghanistan, with the country experiencing a mean annual temperature increase almost double the global average since 1951. Future models predict continued rapid temperature rise and annual droughts by 2030.
Bayley urged the international community to shift from crisis response to building capacity and resilience within Afghanistan to prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening. He warned that without addressing these issues, the plight of ordinary Afghan people will continue to deteriorate.