§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is currently being made by his Department in securing direct flights containing humanitarian aid into Iraqi Kurdistan.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydTogether with other contributors to humanitarian operations in northern Iraq, we believe that road, rather than air, transport is the most cost-effective way of getting aid to those who need it. We have therefore supported the United Nations plan of action which gives priority to ensuring the delivery of relief supplies by road.
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§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are currently undertaken by his Department to alleviate any difficulties faced by the Kurdish people of northern Iraq as a direct result of the United Nations imposed sanctions against Iraq.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe difficulties faced by the Kurdish people of northern Iraq result from the actions of the Baghdad Government, including an internal embargo on the supply of essential goods, rather than from United Nations sanctions. Food, medicine and other goods for essential civilian needs are not covered under the terms of the United Nations sanctions resolutions.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the European Community to ensure that assistance granted to Iraqi Kurdistan is channelled through the Iraqi Kurdish National Assembly and non-governmental organisations.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are in regular contact with the Commission of the European Community about humanitarian assistance to Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. Like our own bilateral aid, EC aid to these areas is being channelled through non-governmental organisations and the World Food Programme.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations concerning the delivery of food, fuel, medicine and reconstruction equipment and material for water, sanitation and shelter for the Kurdish people of Northern Iraq.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe hold regular discussions with the United Nations on these issues. My noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development met the head or the United Nations department of humanitarian affairs on 7 December, and agreed with him on the urgent need for the provision of relief supplies to northern Iraq, in view of the imminent onset of winter.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to channel aid to the Kurdish people of northern Iraq either through the United Nations or through the Iraqi Kurdish National Assembly.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOur bilateral aid to northern Iraq has been channelled through UN agencies, and through British and Kurdish non-governmental organisations. Details of our latest pledge were given in my reply of 26 October to the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney), at column433
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey concerning the transport of non-military aid through Turkey to Iraqi Kurdistan.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe hold regular discussions with the Government of Turkey on humanitarian operations in northern Iraq. We welcome the cooperation which they have given in enabling food and other relief goods to be transported from Turkey to Kurdish areas of Iraq.
§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for helping the Kurds in Iraq.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have spent £52.4 million since April 1991 on aid for Iraqi civilians. Further relief assistance is urgently needed before the onset of winter. We are therefore making available today a further £2.6 million, of which about £2.4 million will be provided to the World Food Programme for urgently needed edible oil and pulses, and the remainder to British nongovernmental organisations for relief activities in northern Iraq.