Northumberland Labour says a humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Afghanistan, and the government needs to do much more to protect people.

Labour says that, as usual with this government it’s too little, too late. The government has waited until the eleventh hour and is now desperately trying to salvage a hopeless situation.

Northumberland Labour leader Scott Dickinson says: “Once again we’ve seen the government caught napping instead of intervening early and being proactive. 

“Last year’s cut in aid to Afghanistan from £192m to £38m was indefensible. This money was being used to counter terrorist influence on the ground; it must be reinstated

“World leaders should make a collective call for an end to violence and renew their commitment to political discussion, reaffirming the human rights of Afghans, including the hard won rights of women and girls.”

Labour is calling for the government to act, and act now, on a number of fronts by:

• providing protection for diplomats and British people working in Afghanistan
• engaging with neighbouring governments such as Pakistan to put pressure on the Taliban to reduce hostilities
• reversing the cuts to the aid budget
• supporting those Afghan people the UK owes a debt to, such as translators and others who supported UK forces