§ 4. Mr. Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington)What assistance the Government are providing for demining activities in Kosovo; and if she will make a statement. [89755]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. George Foulkes)We have provided resources, through the United Nations mine action service, to establish the co-ordination centre in Pristina. We have also funded the Halo Trust to survey the main areas of risk, and the deployment of 12 rapid response teams. So far, we have committed £1.7 million to this work.
§ Mr. BrakeI welcome that news, but can the Minister tell us how many casualties have been reported as a result of land mine incidents? Can he also tell us what has been done to educate and inform refugees in the camps of the dangers before they return to Kosovo?
§ Mr. FoulkesWe are not certain about the exact number, but it is about five a day. That is tragic, but there are fewer casualties than we feared initially. We are funding education programmes, and we are helped by the fact that the Yugoslav army has identified 425 of the 625 mine fields. We have information about the unexploded ordnance, and we are passing that information on to people, particularly families with young children who might be vulnerable.
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)I applaud the work of the Halo Trust and the brave men who work for it. How do the Government see Serbia's role in helping to clear the mines?
§ Mr. FoulkesSerbia has been very helpful in providing us with detailed information about where the mines were laid. We must admit that that has been helpful in our work of trying to clear mine fields as quickly as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew Robathan (Blaby)I welcome what the Minister has said, but has he had any discussions with the 393 Ministry of Defence to ensure that Royal Engineers can assist in that vital work before the winter sets in and snow covers up the mines, although it will not lessen their destructive impact? Will he accept my assurance that hon. Members on both sides of the House welcome the money being put into the reconstruction of Kosovo, and believe that we should give as much as we can, commensurate with the amount that we spent on bombing Serbia during the conflict?
§ Mr. FoulkesI have already said that we have put in a significantly large amount. Other countries and agencies are, of course, also contributing. The armed forces are undertaking some mine clearance, but that is increasingly being taken over by civilian organisations, which we are funding. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will agree that Britain is making a substantial contribution to mine clearance, just as it has to all humanitarian work in Kosovo.
§ Mr. Vernon Coaker (Gedling)What assessment she has made of the educational and medical needs of refugee children in Kosovo; and if she will make a statement. [89757]
§ The Secretary of State for International Development (Clare Short)Assessments of children's needs are the responsibility of the United Nation mission in Kosovo. We are providing financial and other support to the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, which, among other things, are trying to ensure that all children are back at school by September.
§ Mr. CoakerI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Following my visits to the area, may I ask whether she agrees that one of the most important things for children in Kosovo is psycho-social support, which is necessary to help them overcome the trauma that they have experienced over the past few months? Will she also do all that she can to help children in the region who have special needs?
§ Clare ShortThere are two views on psycho-social support for people who have been traumatised, but the predominant view is that getting back to normality is the most important thing—getting children back home and back to school, and getting normal society up and running. They might need additional help, but what they really need is a sense of normal life returning.
As for children with disabilities, obviously we have to stop people. particularly children, being hurt in mine accidents, but we need to get the schools and the health systems up and running. Rather than providing special projects, we need to support the UN mission and the World Health Organisation in getting the health and social services working in Kosovo—and that is what we are doing.
§ Mr. Tim Boswell (Daventry)I in no sense disagree with the exchanges so far, but will the Secretary of State remember the importance of ensuring that people who have children in their care, such as teachers and others, are advised and encouraged by those with experience of dealing with traumatised children? It is important that teachers come to terms with the difficulties that their pupils are suffering.
§ Clare ShortThe hon. Gentleman is right, but the question is how best to do that. Much effort was made to 394 provide counselling after the mass rape of women in Bosnia. Putting the same amount of money and energy into getting people's lives back to normal and getting their homes into some sort of order seems to have a more immediate impact, so we need to concentrate on both things.