Senator Barack Obama, a candidate for US President, is visiting Afghanistan today. International agency Oxfam America makes the following statement on this occasion:

"Oxfam welcomes the attention that Senator Obama's visit will bring to conditions in Afghanistan. The international community listens closely as US presidential candidates share their plans to address the continued conflict in Afghanistan. However, the situation in Afghanistan raises issues beyond the public discussion over troop levels. Alleviating poverty and protecting civilians from violence are essential components of a strategy to bring peace and stability to the country. Unless the next American president, whether it is Senator Obama or Senator McCain, builds on the existing commitments to help lift the Afghan people out of extreme poverty and protect civilians, it will be impossible for the country to achieve lasting peace.

"While the United States has been a generous donor to Afghanistan, an overhaul of US assistance to Afghanistan is necessary. US foreign aid should do more to put the Afghan people and their government in charge of their own development and make its funding more predictable and transparent towards that end. In particular, the US should spend less on achieving short-term measures of success using costly consultants who are hamstrung by security constraints, and find more creative and sustainable ways to deliver the long-term development and security that Afghans really need. More resources and effort should be devoted to rural development, especially through reforming local governance and support for agriculture on which the majority of Afghans rely.

"The security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated, with an alarming increase in civilian casualties. All parties to the conflict must do everything possible to avoid causing harm to civilians. Greater efforts must also be made to ensure that civilians affected by the conflict receive full and timely compensation and assistance."