§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps, in collaboration with other member states of the EC, to increase 1296WA the flow of relief aid to the drought stricken areas of Eritrea and Tigray, following the capture of Massawa by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front and the resulting availability of a direct route from Massawa to those areas without crossing the front line.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraGiven that the Red Sea has now been declared a war zone and that the port of Massawa may be subject to intensive counterattack by government forces, its capture by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front is likely to hinder rather than help the relief effort. All possible means of getting food to the hungry are under urgent consideration by donors and my right honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development will be assessing the situation for herself when she visits Addis Ababa on 9th and 10th March.