HL Deb 12 July 1982 vol 433 cc1-3
Lord Molloy

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to organise an international effort to alleviate the suffering of the Lebanese people.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator is the focal point for international disaster relief co-ordination. In addition to our direct humanitarian help, the Government are working closely with this organisation, as are many other Governments, the European Community and the relief agencies, to relieve the suffering of the Lebanese people.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply, which will give some hope to many in that part of the world, where the carnage is now terrible and which I feel will be condemned by nearly every civilised human being. I am proud to hear that our Government are playing their part in endeavouring to get relief quickly to the Lebanese people.

Lord Skelmersdale

I am grateful to the noble Lord for that supplementary, my Lords. Nearly £¼million in unilateral aid has been given in the Lebanese situation and we are contributing about £1 million to the proposed European Community contribution. The noble Lord mentioned the Lebanese people, but I would point out that the aid is for people, not for nationalities; the aid goes directly to suffering people, no matter what ethnic origin they may have.

Baroness Macleod of Borve

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the aid is being given in financial terms or in actual goods which they can use?

Lord Skelmersdale

Both, my Lords. The initial response by the Government was for £10,000, which was a cash grant to the Lebanon Red Cross, which was telegraphed on 12th June—only six days after the incident—to our embassy there. The rest has been paying for such things as blankets and tents and air freight for other people's blankets.

The Lord Bishop of Rochester

My Lords, while the alleviation of the immediate needs of the 600,000 displaced people is obviously very urgent indeed, may I ask the Minister if he is aware that what the Lebanon needs more than anything else is secure and respected frontiers? May I therefore ask him what steps the Government are taking to ensure that any peace-keeping forces are given adequate international authority?

Lord Skelmersdale

Although that is rather a different question, my Lords, I would say that until the situation becomes clearer and the constant military action de-escalates, it will be impossible for the Government to come to a decision on the matter.

Lord Brockway

Arising out of that, my Lords, may I ask if it is not possible for the Government to use their influence to increase the United Nations peacekeeping force to prevent a deterioration of the situation? Did not Greece yesterday offer to send a contingent, and could the Minister give any report on what happened at the UN Security Council yesterday when they discussed this subject?

Lord Skelmersdale

Not in answer to this Question, my Lords. If the noble Lord would like to put down a Question on the subject, I should of course be delighted to answer it.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the Minister able to say whether there is now any difficulty in getting aid in, or has that problem been resolved? Is the aid therefore now getting to those who need it?

Lord Skelmersdale

Indeed I am able to say, my Lords. There has previously been some reference in the House to the problems of the access of the International Red Cross to the area. I am glad to say that those have now been resolved and that there are now teams on the ground in the Lebanon.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I fully take his point, and accept immediately, that the aid being provided will not be limited merely to the Lebanese people, although they no doubt are the greatest sufferers, but that it is for other people who are suffering as well? Would he be prepared to give me an assurance that, if there is any interference by the aggressors and invaders in the area with humanitarian aid being taken to people who are suffering so drastically, this Government will give a world lead in condemning such action?

Lord Skelmersdale

Yes, my Lords, without the faintest shadow of doubt.

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