HL Deb 15 November 2001 vol 628 cc681-3

3.29 p.m.

Baroness Whitaker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How humanitarian aid to Afghanistan can be increased now that Mazar-i Sharif and Kabul have fallen.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)

My Lords, we hope that the UN and the ICRC will be able to improve the delivery of food, healthcare and other assistance to 2 million vulnerable people in the northern region of Afghanistan, and that some of the internally displaced will be able to return home before the winter gets worse. Such progress is dependent on improved security.

Baroness Whitaker

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that positive Answer. Is she aware that there have been reports of looting from World Food Programme, UN and voluntary sector offices in both Mazar-i Sharif and Kabul, and that UNICEF now has convoys coming in with urgent medical supplies which will be under threat? What steps can the Government take, together with other players, to safeguard these essential supplies, so desperately needed by the people there?

Baroness Amos

My Lords, I understand that there was a report of 10 trucks being seized by Northern Alliance troops. Eight of them have been found; the supplies are intact and the drivers are safe. I also understand that UNICEF met with military commanders yesterday, although I am unable to report the outcome of the meeting. Plans are being made for the international staff of the UN, the Red Cross and other NGOs to return to Afghanistan and thus improve services to vulnerable people there

Baroness Rawlings

My Lords, we on these Benches are delighted to hear the good news today that the humanitarian aid workers are free. Following a successful meeting between my honourable friend Caroline Spelman and the Secretary of State, Clare Short, will the Government make certain that humanitarian aid is delivered to the most vulnerable people? These are mainly widows in the war zones who have lost their men in battle.

Baroness Amos

My Lords, I agree with the sentiment expressed by the noble Baroness. We are delighted to learn that not only have the eight foreign workers been freed but also their Afghan counterparts. I can assure the noble Baroness that our priority is to ensure that the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan receive assistance.

Lord Phillips of Sudbury

My Lords, given that the military activity is continuing—although, mercifully, it has had great success lately—and given that there are 10 million unexploded mines and bomblets in Afghanistan and that four children a day are being blown up by them, will the Government consider taking the initiative with the coalition at least to prevent any further cluster bombs being dropped, as 10 to 15 per cent of the bomblets do not explode on landing?

Baroness Amos

My Lords, the situation that we have now reached indicates that it was not necessary to stop the air campaign to allow humanitarian aid into Afghanistan. Although the situation is difficult, supplies have actually increased since 11th September.

We are concerned about the situation as regards mines. The Department for International Development has been assisting with mine clearance. We have also produced, with our international partners, a 100-day recovery programme, looking at a whole range of issues that need to be tackled in Afghanistan. That includes what is happening at the UN in regard to the political situation and other areas that need to be addressed to ensure that humanitarian assistance gets through.

Baroness Uddin

My Lords, what is being done to ensure that medical as well as food supplies are getting through, bearing in mind particularly the needs of women and vulnerable children? Will my noble friend also tell the House what is being done to ensure that some kind of immunisation programme is in place, particularly for young children?

Baroness Amos

My Lords, a number of UN agencies are looking at the breadth of the situation in Afghanistan. It is still early days in the sense of opening up access. However, I am aware, for example, that UNICEF is taking in much-needed medical supplies. As my noble friend rightly said, that will help the situation particularly in regard to women and young children.

Earl Russell

My Lords, further to the question about widows from the noble Baroness, Lady Rawlings, when Her Majesty's Government find anyone who might be regarded as being in power in Afghanistan, will they impress upon them the importance of allowing women to work should they choose to do so?

Baroness Amos

My Lords, we, with our European Union partners, have made it absolutely clear that the situation that existed under the Taliban regime whereby women were not allowed to work was unacceptable. We shall continue to maintain that position.

Lord Judd

My Lords, my noble friend referred to the return of NGOs to their role in Afghanistan. Will she assure the House that the co-ordination between NGO work and government work is now all that it should he?

Baroness Amos

My Lords, my noble friend has asked about co-ordination many times. I have assured him that work is taking place not only between government and NGOs, but also across government—in terms of development, military considerations, and the examination of diplomatic and political issues—to ensure proper co-ordination.