HC Deb 12 July 1999 vol 335 c52W
Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the problem of drought in the Middle East. [R] [90336]

Mr. Hoon

There is a drought this year affecting the whole of the Middle East. Rainfall is down to a third of normal levels—reportedly the lowest it has been for at least thirty years. It is not possible to assess at this stage whether this year's low rainfall is an anomaly.

The Department for International Development have prepared an assessment of the drought in the Middle East, a copy of which will shortly be in the House of Commons Library.