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.
