§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the(a) nature and (b) destination of the 250 million euros aid voted in the European Council for reconstruction and rehabilitation in Central America. [101109]
§ Clare ShortFollowing the European Council's approval of 250 million euros in post-Mitch reconstruction aid for Central America in May 1999, the European Commission developed a programme of reconstruction, which was agreed by member states in November. The programme will provide Honduras (119 million euros), Nicaragua (84 million euros), El Salvador (28.5 million euros) and Guatemala (18.5 million euros) in three areas
reinstating, improving and extending infrastructure and equipment in the education, public health, environmental sanitation and housing sectors;strengthening educational, public health and sanitation services, including the management capacity of the relevant government institutions, in order to improve efficiency, quality and access, for the most vulnerable sections of the population;strengthening local government and civil society by providing support for the drafting and implementation of rehabilitation and development plans and for the preparation of a framework for risk prevention and to lessen the impact of this type of natural disaster.