§ Mr.Maurice Macmillanasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether her Department has despatched any humanitarian aid to Eritrea through any international agencies; what representations she has received on the question of aid to Eritrea in the last three months; and what action she intends to undertake to help relieve the crisis situation in that area.
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§ Mrs. HartNo. I am fully aware of public concern on this question, and have received very few representations.
A recent appeal by the International Committee of the Red Cross has, however, included provision for Red Cross assistance on both sides of the conflict in Eritrea. I propose to make a grant-in-aid of £150,000 in support of the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea. Parliamentary approval to this service will be sought in the Winter Supplementary Estimate to the Overseas Aid Vote. This £150,000 is additional to the £100,000 announced in May to finance International Red Cross assistance in Somalia, Jibuti and Ethiopia.