I visited Afghan seven times when I was an MP, and saw how British aid was used to provide health care, get girls and boys into school, and rebuild lives.  

On my first visit I met teenage girls who were starting Year 1 of primary school. Later I met women who had found jobs and set up businesses with UK help, and inspirational women elected to country's Parliament.  

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Afghanistan for 33 years - yes, they were there when the Taliban last ruled the country, so they know how to deliver aid in challenging circumstances.

Their 1,700 experienced Afghan aid workers aren't leaving.  They are already providing emergency humanitarian aid to vulnerable and desperate people inside the country: cash support to internally displaced people who fled to Kabul but can't get out.  They're re-opening health clinics, keeping girls in school, and providing therapeutic "healing classrooms" for traumatised children;  they have launched  "Signpost", a digital programme which provides accurate, accessible and timely information to people in crisis.

They are making contingency plans to receive refugees who cross the border into Pakistan, and are already processing and resettling refugees who have flown out - receiving refugees in the USA, Mexico and even Uganda.

IRC has launched an emergency appeal for $10 million.  Early funding will help IRC to act quickly, to protect hard-won human rights and prevent long-term and devastating harm. 

I am an IRC UK Trustee and I want to do my bit, so I am walking 125 miles to raise money for vulnerable people, especially women and girls, in Afghanistan.  Walking seems the right thing to do, in solidarity with people whose only means of escape is to walk.

I am walking two long-distance paths - the Tabular Hills Walk from Scarborough to Helmsley, and the Ebor Way from Helmsley to Ilkley - 125 miles, which I plan to do in 8 days (though it could take an old man like me a bit longer!).  Please give to enable IRC UK to help some of the most frightened, vulnerable and desperate people in the world.

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