§ 24. Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to provide medical assistance to organisations working in Iraq. [46889]
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§ Clare ShortIn March 1998 I announced a new £7 million bilateral aid programme for central and southern Iraq in addition to some £3 million provided annually mainly for the north. £2.7 million of the new funds have been committed, including the provision of medicines direct to children's hospitals and water and sanitation projects to improve environmental health. My officials are working closely with specialist medical NGOs to develop project proposals, especially those benefiting children. In the last two years DFID has funded medical projects worth £4.1 million, of which £2.6 million was for the centre and south of Iraq.