§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what progress has been made recently by(a) the United Nations development programme, (b) the Food and Agriculture Organisation, (c) the World Health Organisation, (d) UNOSOM—the United Nations operation in Somalia, (e) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and (f) UNICEF in developing reconstruction and other services in north west Somalia.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydDetails of the activities of UNDP, FAO, WHO and the role of UNOSOM in north-west Somalia have been provided in answers to the hon. Member on 24 February at columns398–99, 28 February at column 546, 1 March at column 631, 15 April at columns 303 and 329 and 14 June at columns 393–94.
UNICEF activities in the region include: health—mother and child health programmes, immunisation, treatment and prevention of cholera, support for hospitals and health centres; education—construction of one Koranic school in Hargeisa, with 10 additional schools targeted for rehabiliation, training programme for koranic school teachers; and water and sanitation—emergency trucking of water, rehabilitation of shallow wells and hand pump installation.
UNHCR has confirmed the completion of 148 quick impact projects—QUIPS—to assist the resident population and returning refugees. A further 216 projects continue 329W including those in the water, health, education, agriculture, livestock and income generation sectors. UNHCR has also made available US$2.6 million for demining activities and is involved in discussions with regional authorities on the repatriation of Somali refugees from Ethiopia and Djibouti.
The United Nations development office is planning a multi-donor mission to Woquooly Galbeed region to take forward discussions with regional authorities on the priorities and conditions necessary for developing reconstruction activities and services to that region.