§ 16. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to the UN to enable the co-ordination of humanitarian relief to Afghanistan. [14161]
§ Clare ShortWe have set aside £40 million to respond to the current crisis affecting Afghans in Afghanistan and in neighbouring countries. About £37 million has already been allocated to agencies for their work in the region to fulfil their humanitarian goals. This includes £24 million to UN agencies. Our financial assistance is complemented by the provision of technical personnel, logistical, material and other practical support.
Co-ordination of humanitarian assistance is the responsibility of the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which has appointed a Regional Humanitarian Co-ordinator based in Islamabad. We have allocated £2 million to OCHA in response to the current crisis to support these efforts. This includes the provision of technical personnel who have set up a humanitarian information centre (HIC) to collate and communicate humanitarian information on the needs and programmes to all concerned agencies. This contribution is also being used to increase the capacity of the offices of the UN resident co-ordinators in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan; and to deploy personnel and equipment to support the UN in re-establishing its presence in Afghanistan.
312WWe have also provided £1 million to support the work of Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, who is working to develop a consensus among Afghans and the international community on the future governance of Afghanistan.
§ 19. Mr. LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. [14164]
§ Clare ShortThe humanitarian situation remains fragile. However, UN agencies, particularly the World Food Programme, and the Red Cross Movement continue to make good and steady progress in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Afghanistan.
The World Food Programme met its target for October of delivering 53,000 tonnes of food into Afghanistan and Afghan staff have managed to keep supplies moving inside the country. The situation inside Afghanistan is changing rapidly. We will work with the World Food Programme to try to ensure that supplies continue to be delivered into Afghanistan and within the country.
§ 26. John RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to ensure that aid going to Afghanistan is reaching Afghan refugees. [14171]
§ Clare ShortMy Department is channelling its humanitarian assistance to Afghans through international humanitarian organisations and non-governmental organisations with experience in the region and a track record to deliver. Our best assessment, based on information from a range of humanitarian agencies suggests that distribution systems inside Afghanistan have by and large continued to deliver to those in need.
There are good prospects for opening additional routes into the country, particularly with the changing political situation. We hope that the international organisations, particularly the UN and Red Cross, will be able to improve delivery of food, healthcare, and other assistance and that some of the internally displaced will be able to return home before the winter gets worse. Plans are now being made for their international staff to return as soon as possible. In addition, we hope that it will be possible to accelerate deliveries so that winter stockpiles can be built closer to the people who need them. However, such progress is dependant on improved security.
§ 27. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her oral statement of 1 November 2001,Official Report, column 1100, what proposals she has for the collection of unexploded cluster bomb ordnance by (a) the Halo Trust and (b) other organisations in the next 10 years. [14172]
§ Clare ShortI announced an allocation of £2 million for immediate humanitarian mine action assistance to Afghanistan on 15 November. We expect this to include the clearance of unexploded cluster bomb ordnance. Our assistance will be channelled through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) with whom we will discuss appropriate requirements including projects with UK demining organisations, including the Halo Trust.
§ 29. Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government are planning to provide to de-mining operations in Afghanistan. [14174]
313W
§ Clare ShortI announced an allocation of £2 million for immediate humanitarian mine action assistance to Afghanistan on 15 November. Our assistance will be channelled through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) with whom we will discuss appropriate requirements.