§ Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the emergency aid provided to Jordan by Her Majesty's Government to help relieve the suffering caused by recent disturbances in that country.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe made arrangements to provide relief aid immediately after receiving an appeal for such aid from King Hussein on 19th September. The aid took two forms: the provision of supplies and the provision of medical assistance. We began to airlift supplies to Jordan on 23rd September; 24½ tons of medical supplies and 80 tons of food were sent to Amman by 30th September. Our programme of medical assistance was launched soon after. Medical units, manned by 151 service personnel who had volunteered and had been enrolled in the British Red Cross Society, were flown to Amman and began treating casualties on 1st October. Some 650 patients have since received treatment and over 240 surgical operations have been performed.
Our relief operation has been co-ordinated with the relief operations of other countries, all under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Now that the immediate need has been met, the British medical units were withdrawn between 1st November and 3rd November. The costs of our operation will not be finally established for some time, but it is estimated that they will be in the region of £300,000. Parliament will be asked to approve the necessary Supplementary Estimate in due course. In the meantime, advances are being sought, as necessary, from the Civil Contingencies Fund.
Reports on the progess of the relief operation show that it contributed greatly to the relief of suffering in 400W Jordan. Great credit is due to the members of the medical units and others who contributed to its success.