Afghanistan work 'only just begun'

Reconstruction is a gargantuan task

International donors lending money to Afghanistan must up the stakes and rethink their aid policy, according to a new report.

The current funds are inadequate and are not being used in the most efficient way, the report from the Royal Institute of International Affairs said.

A sizeable portion of the money already donated to rebuilding the shattered country was spent on humanitarian aid.

"In terms of reconstruction, work has only just begun," the report said, highlighting concerns that the international community will just walk away.

"We were struck by the devastation and poverty of the country and saw little evidence that large scale reconstruction had taken place," it noted.

Broken promises?

International donors have only pledged $5.8bn (£3.6bn) towards rebuilding Afghanistan, whereas the World Bank estimates up to $20bn is needed.

And much of the promised money has yet to arrive.

The report also notes that the Afghan interim government lacks the capacity to absorb funds or spend them effectively, but stresses that donors must find a better way of handing over responsibility to the authorities.

Afghanistan was ravaged by war for almost 10 years before the 2000-2001 US strikes, and the task of rebuilding the economy is gargantuan.

British MPs on Thursday will focus on the many challenges facing Afghanistan.