Somaliland (Hansard, 28 February 1994)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking, at international level, to ensure that resources are available to provide programmes of work and support for disarming militias in Somaliland.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
As a permanent member of the Security Council the United Kingdom has ensured that all relevant UNSC resolutions have underlined the importance of disarming militias throughout Somalia. We have also ensured that UNSC resolutions urge member states to provide resources in support of UNOSOM's efforts throughout Somalia.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way the United Nations supports the Egal Government in Somaliland.
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§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
There are four senior UNOSOM staff in Hargeisa, comprising officer-in-charge, senior humanitarian officer, political officer and security co-ordinator. There are also local and international support staff.
UNOSOM is working to promote stability and rehabilitation within existing civic structures throughout Somalia including the north-west.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the 1993 budget of the United Nations operation in Somalia—UNOSOM—was spent in Somaliland; and what proportion this was of UNOSOM's total expenditure in Somalia as a whole.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Total UNOSOM expenditure in 1993 was approximately $650 million, of which some 84 per cent. relates directly or indirectly to troop costs. The remainder covers the administrative support costs of the operation. Details regarding the proportion of this figure spent in north-west Somalia are not available.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Admiral Jonathan Howe, head of UNOSOM, has visited Somaliland; what promises of assistance were given; and what has actually been delivered by UNOSOM.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Admiral Howe visited Berbera in north-west Somalia on 6 November 1993, and committed UNOSOM to provide more than $3 million for strengthening the police, prison and judicial services, and for the provision of administrative kits to help local administrative structures improve their operations in north-west Somalia.
This money has been allocated, but UNOSOM is not yet able to provide a summary of how much has been disbursed.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the United Nations to increase the resources of the Office for Project Services division of the United Nations Development Plan in Somaliland to assist the reintegration of former militia into a peaceful society.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The United Nations attaches importance to the early reintegration of former militia into a peaceful society. OPS is, however, an implementing agency which performs services for the United Nations system and governments on a cost-reimburseable basis. Any expansion of projects under way would depend on the availability of additional donor finance.