HC Deb 21 May 1993 vol 225 cc348-9W
Mr. Elletson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the aid and assistance schemes made available to the Croat Government since independence.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have provided a total of £60,000 in the form of direct bilateral assistance to the Croatian Government. This was used to assess the damage and make urgent recommendations for remedial repairs to the Peruca dam which was in danger of collapse. The United Nations and the EC have provided various forms of assistance in Croatia but comprehensive figures Setting out their expenditure are not readily available.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the new initiative launched by his Department to alleviate physical and psychological hardship among Bosnian women will be extended to all women in Bosnia-Herzegovina irrespective of ethnic origin; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 20 May 1993]: A programme of assistance to traumatised women in Bosnia-Herzegovina is being started by the United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisation Marie Stopes International. We are providing financial support for this project together with the European Commission, a number of other EC member states and the United Nations.

The project will be based in four centres in Bosnia from where it will operate outreach health and counselling teams. The locations have been chosen on the basis of security, logistics and need. They will provide assistance to traumatised and abused women irrespective of their ethnic origins.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the application of sanctions on fuel supplies to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is having on the provision of humanitarian aid by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Belgrade to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 20 May 1993] There were initial concerns in UNHCR that the rapid imposition of further sanctions against Serbia would delay the supply of humanitarian relief supplies to Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, the United Nations sanctions committee has taken steps to ensure that all shipments of humanitarian supplies are authorised and proceed without delay.