UK ‘turning back on people of Afghanistan’ as aid slashed by half

The slashing of aid comes as humanitarian situation continues to worsen in the South Asian nation

The government has been accused of “turning its back” on the people of Afghanistan after an official watchdog said UK aid to the nation has more than halved.

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) said the UK is expected to provide £100 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in 2023-24, compared with £246 million in the previous year.

The watchdog’s latest review of UK funding since the Taliban takeover in 2021 said the sharp fall followed successive cuts to Britain’s aid budget and the use of a substantial amount of it on housing refugees in the UK.