JUST back from Afghanistan, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn settled down to dinner in Sidcup.

After seeing for himself how Afghanistan is faring after its elections, Mr Benn was the guest of honour at Bexleyheath and Crayford Labour Party's annual dinner.

He spoke to more than 80 party members and councillors about the tremendous worldwide response to the Boxing Day tsunamis.

But he went on to make a plea for help for the developing world.

"There is a silent tsunami in the world every day of every month, with a devastating death toll of human lives, from malaria, tuberculosis and Aids," he told his audience.

"Through the Commission for Africa, Britain has taken the lead in bringing countries together in a concerted drive to reduce poverty and disease and to ensure every child has at least a primary education."

And he illustrated how providing clean drinking water can have an unexpected knock-on effect on other needs.

"Drinking water was carried to the village by girls, for whom it was a full-time job, therefore they did not go to school," he explained.

"Once there was a reliable source of clean water in the village, the girls were not needed as water carriers, so they went to school."