HL Deb 03 December 1996 vol 576 cc43-4WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What multilateral and bilateral policies and action they are pursuing to meet the overall humanitarian needs of the Great Lakes area of Africa and what steps they are taking to help promote a regional political settlement.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The UK is in close touch with UN agencies and non-governmental organisations over humanitarian needs in the Great Lakes. We have committed over £21 million to the region in humanitarian assistance in 1996 both bilaterally and through the European Commission. We are pushing both bilaterally and with the international community for access to populations in need in the region. We support the efforts of regional leaders, the Organisation of African Unity and the UN to facilitate a sustainable regional political settlement and are pressing for an early regional summit to take matters forward.

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to assist the governments of Tanzania and Uganda to deal with the growing number of refugees in their countries.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The UK has committed nearly £3.5 million bilaterally in 1996, through UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, to address the needs of refugees and of host populations in Tanzania and a further £1.1 million in Uganda. We are ready to do more as additional needs arise. The UK continues to work with the international community to encourage a sustainable political settlement in the Great Lakes region which will allow refugees to return to their homes.

Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest position on the dispatch of a United Nations military support force for humanitarian operations in the Great Lakes area of Africa.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The United Nations Secretary-General was requested under UN Security Council 1078 to draw up a concept of operations and framework for a humanitarian task force. We look forward to the Secretary-General's report to the Security Council. Whether the deployment of a UN force will be necessary will depend on further developments on the ground in eastern Zaire.