HL Deb 08 February 1993 vol 542 cc419-21

2.45 p.m.

Lord Molloy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied with the progress being made by the United Nations in distributing aid in Somalia.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, since December the deployment of the unified task force (UNITAF) has enabled the UN and NGOs to deliver aid much more effectively to most parts of the country.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I express my appreciation to the noble Baroness for her Answer. Is she aware that we are now witnessing one of the most grotesque examples of man's inhumanity to man? Much of the aid being sent to Somalia about which she spoke is being looted by gangsters, some of whom have been dealt with by the Americans with British aid. Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali has been there, but does not seem to be doing anything. Is it possible for the Government to acknowledge the terrible sufferings of the people in Somalia and to call upon all the United Nations, not merely Britain and the USA, to make a contribution towards relieving the suffering and stopping the gangsterism in that country?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I would remind the noble Lord that Operation Restore Hope consists of 22 different countries and involves 39,000 people from those countries. The purpose of Operation Restore Hope is to secure the relief effort. We accept that it is in the nature of such humanitarian assistance that some pilfering may take place. Discussions are already under way for a hand-over of responsibility from Operation Restore Hope to a revised UN special operation. We have made it clear that such an operation will need to have adequate personnel and a strong mandate to enable it to build upon the success of Operation Restore Hope.

Lord Rea

My Lords, will the noble Baroness express the support and admiration of the Government and the House for the excellent humanitarian work being done in Somalia by UNICEF, Oxfam and other organisations, and express sympathy with the relatives of those aid workers who have lost their lives? Will she outline what progress has been made in the talks between the United Nations and the USA in relation to the future structure and composition of the international peacekeeping force in Somalia?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, relief programmes cannot be run effectively or efficiently without security and good co-ordination at the field level among donors, local participants, UN agencies, and NGOs. NGOs are absolutely key and often forgotten. I gladly acknowledge, as the noble Lord did, our debt to them.

Lord Rea

My Lords, will the noble Baroness please answer the second part of my question about the progress of talks between the UN and the USA on the future of the international peacekeeping force?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, talks are proceeding. My noble friend Lady Chalker has been in Africa—Somalia and Kenya—during the past weekend. She will return tomorrow and there will then no doubt be more information as to how her talks with the UN and other officials have progressed.

The Lord Bishop of Guildford

My Lords, is the noble Baroness satisfied that with regard to the distribution of aid in Somalia, and the attempts at reconciliation, sufficient recognition is being given to the traditional community leaders rather than the war lords? I am referring, in shorthand, to the tribal chiefs. If more recognition were given to their part in the life of the society might that not help towards stability in the longer term?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, in reply to the right reverend Prelate, the Addis Ababa meeting on 4th January produced agreement among the warring factions on a ceasefire, disarmament, encampment of militias and a national reconciliation conference on 15th March in Addis Ababa. We hope that the reconciliation progress will involve all sections of Somali society.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, when the USA sent in 25,000 troops, it was thought that that would be a short, sharp operation ending by the middle of January. It has not ended. Can the noble Baroness now give an estimate of when it will end?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, no. I was unaware that we were looking at the situation as a short, sharp exercise. It will be a long time before that country returns to a more normal situation. That is why talks are progressing with the UN.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, in view of the power of the current gangster war lords it is useless to send aid of any kind. They must first be put down. Will the noble Baroness consider what must then be done at the United Nations, with a lead from Britain, in order to create a reputable police force in that part of the world?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, it is essential that there is a clear plan for the hand-over of responsibility from the coalition forces to the UN when the former leave. Discussions on that issue are under way and we are pressing for the UN operation to be adequately resourced.