§ Mr. Molloyasked the Minister for Overseas Development how many trucks have been sent from Great Britain to Ethiopia and the drought-stricken countries of the Sahel to help with the internal distribution of food and medical supplies.
§ Mr. William PriceUp to the present 108 vehicles have been committed to the drought areas of Africa mostly at the expense of the British Government and the British voluntary agencies. The overall cost is about £750,000. Many of the vehicles have already been delivered either by RAF airlift or by surface route across the Sahara—23 to Ethiopia, 32 to Niger and 10 to Chad. Six are being sent to Mauritania by sea and the remainder are being airlifted to Ethiopia.
§ Mr. Molloyasked the Minister of Ovearseas Development what recent help the British Government have given to Chad in the drought-stricken region of the Sahel.
§ Mr. William PriceFollowing my recent visit to the Sahel 10 vehicles were airlifted to Chad, together with £5,000 worth of medical supplies for a hospital at Mao in the Kanem region. In addition the Red Cross provided medical supplies using spare capacity on our aircraft. I have recently received reports that the lorries are being used on relief work and that our medical supplies have reached the hospital.