HC Deb 09 May 2002 vol 385 cc289-90W
Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what plans her Department has for providing (a) water, (b) food and (c) medication to the Palestinian civilian population once access to the whole of the West Bank can be secured; and if she will make a statement; [55159]

(2) what medical supplies her Department has (a) pledged and (b) delivered to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society since 1 April; and if she will make a statement; [55161]

(3) how much money her Department has (a) pledged and (b) given to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society for the purchase of ambulances and medical supplies since 1 April; and if she will make a statement; [55163]

(4) what assistance her Department has provided the Palestinian Red Crescent Society since 1 April; and if she will make a statement. [55162]

Clare Short

We are working closely with our development partners to try to determine the full extent of the damage and the humanitarian consequences and priority needs arising from the current conflict. It is important that assistance is fully co-ordinated.

Our bilateral assistance programme is planned at £12 million this year. This includes support, through local NGOs for a number of emergency programmes in health, trauma counselling and special education needs which have been able to respond to the intensified crisis. We have also disbursed £12 million of our annual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees' General Fund, and made a £5 million contribution to UNRWA' s 2002 Emergency Appeal. We are providing direct assistance to help set up a Humanitarian Information Centre and have provided £500,000 to the World Food Programme for emergency needs. We are discussing with UNRWA further support to help clear and rebuild Jenin refugee camp. In addition we contribute substantially through our share of EC and World bank activities. We have not provided any direct support to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society since 1 April.

We are monitoring the situation closely and aim to continue to respond appropriately.

Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received on the status of the Save the Children Fund water and sanitation projects in(a) Dura, (b) Anabta, (c) Jabalia and (d) Rafah; what the impact of the current campaign of the Israeli Defence Force has been (i) on the operation of the projects and (ii) on the piped water supplies, sewerage pipes and drains associated with them; and if she will make a statement. [55160]

Clare Short

Save the Children Fund reports continued steady progress and expects to meet the overall objectives on time. The projects are leading to improvements in both the quality and quantity of water for household consumption, and better sanitary standards as the majority of homes are connected to new sewage networks. The continued conflict and closures has inevitably had an impact on the project communities where homes and infrastructure have been damaged and destroyed. Project equipment has also been embargoed by the Israeli authorities, but it has often been possible to circumvent this by creative means.