International development secretary Clare Short has announced that humanitarian aid agencies should return to Afghanistan "as soon as possible".

In a written answer to John Taylor, MP for Solihull, she stresses that security must be improved before any staff re-enter the country.

She said: "The changing situation on the ground opens up new opportunities for us to improve humanitarian programmes and give better access to some of the most vulnerable people. Plans are now being made for the international staff of humanitarian agencies to return to parts of Afghanistan as soon as possible."

The World Food Programme is also organising food drops for those people living in snowbound areas of the country, she said. This follows the allocation of extra donations by the government from the £40 million of funds made available for the humanitarian effort.

The announcement comes as British troops entered Afghanistan to secure an airport near Kabul as a base for the delivery of vital aid supplies.