§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to ensure that there is an adequate response to the United Nations consolidated appeal for Sierra Leone. [HL 184]
§ Baroness AmosThe Secretary of State for International Development is doing all she can to persuade other bilateral donors to contribute. She intends to invite fellow development ministers to London early in the new year to discuss this issue.
§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to ensure that their lead on the urgent funding of the programme to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate the estimated 45,000 combatants in Sierra Leone is followed by the international community. [HL185]
§ Baroness AmosThe Secretary of State for International Development has so far committed £6.5 million to the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme for combatants in Sierra Leone. A substantial part of this is pledged to 101WA the World Bank's Multi Donor Trust Fund. In addition to a contribution of US 9 million dollars from the Bank, four other countries have so far offered or are actively considering an offer of support for the programme through the fund.
Additional pledges are needed urgently in order to reach the overall estimate of the cost of DDR, and the Secretary of State is intending to press Sierra Leone's case for further donations with development ministers early in the New Year.