In her article on immigration (We need to work out a way forward on rising migration – the alternative is mass drownings, 22 August), Gaia Vince refers to population expansion, global warming, conflicts and disasters as factors that push people from their homes. One other factor has a major impact on living standards in poor countries – sanctions.
Fifty or more countries are under sanctions. One example is Afghanistan. The country is economically isolated. The stated purpose is to help the population suffering under Taliban rule, but sanctions have been enforced for over a year and show no signs of working. They do, however, exacerbate food insecurity in the population and make it impossible to begin rebuilding the country after decades of strife. Sanctions on Cuba for over 50 years have not worked. There is no good reason to believe they will work in Afghanistan.
Part of the response to the tragedy of forced migration should be looking at how to improve life for people in their homelands so that they do not have to leave in the first place. Widespread sanction relief would be a comparatively easy way to start bringing that about. Britain enforces sanctions and is a strong voice in backing up US sanctions. That needs to change.
Brendan O’Brien
London
• Migration and the perils of refugee sea crossings in Europe look set to rise owing to the effects of not only climate change but also unending conflict, a tragic permanent feature in too much of the world. But Gaia Vince touches on the heart of the matter: “we need to fund places to adapt”.
The House of Commons library informs us that the UK overseas aid budget fell from a 2019 peak of £15.1bn to £11.5bn in 2021, only rising to £12.8bn in 2022 because nearly a third was spent hosting refugees.
Rishi Sunak brands himself as a return to serious leadership, and yet all we see is a deep commitment to sticking-plaster politics, spending £2.3bn a year to host refugees whose claims should instead be processed far quicker.
However, above all, European overseas aid budgets need to be dramatically increased to address at source the push factors that force so many to risk everything. The EU provides over €50bn a year in international aid; this needs to be higher. And the UK needs to set aside its addiction to emotive short‑termism and deliver a thoughtful, holistic, properly funded approach to this crisis.
Nick Mayer
Southampton
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