§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the(a) political manipulation of food aid and (b) selective starvation being carried out in Zimbabwe by its Government. [76887]
§ Clare ShortIt is a fundamental principle of the international and bilateral agencies working in Zimbabwe and elsewhere that food aid is targeted on the basis of need alone, and is not politically determined. The World Food Programme is working through non-governmental organisations under an agreement with the Government of Zimbabwe that enshrines this principle. Our bilateral feeding Programmes also work through NGOs on the same criteria, and within NGOs' established operational agreements with the Government of Zimbabwe. DFID and other donors are closely monitoring events on the ground to ensure that principles and agreements are honoured, and where problems are found or reported, that these are resolved through transparent complaints procedures.
Food assistance through the Government of Zimbabwe does not operate to similar levels of openness and transparency. I share the concern that there appears to be selective distribution. Whilst I am very concerned about malnutrition and hunger, it is premature to suggest there is starvation. But I have joined the UN in urging donor countries to help reduce the food gap in Zimbabwe to avoid crisis which remains all too possible.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of(a) the obstruction of food aid and (b) human rights abuses committed by the 546W Zimbabwe Government against the Zimbabwean people; and what her Department's strategy is for dealing with the obstruction of food aid by President Mugabe. [76904]
§ Clare ShortThere has been no systematic obstruction of food aid provided by the UN agencies and international donors in Zimbabwe. There have been particular problems in one or two areas and for particular organisations apparently attributable solely to bias on the part of the authorities or local activists. There is on-going negotiation in country on problems for two UK NGOs. Where problems have arisen, aid has been suspended until the organisations concerned have been satisfied that unfettered distribution can resume. At present the major constraints to food aid are the need to scale up the capacity of all the implementation organisations, and to get full funding of the UN appeal.
This House is well aware of Government's concern about the on-going abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe. We deplore the continuing record of oppression and human rights abuse to suppress legitimate opposition and criticism of its disastrous policies.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department has given to the UN World Food Programme in Zimbabwe. [76903]
§ Clare ShortDFID has provided a total of £10.5 million for WFP feeding programmes in Zimbabwe, and £45,000 to strengthen food logistics management in country.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the banning of Oxfam and Save the Children from distributing the World Food Programme food by the Zimbabwean Government; and what discussions her Department has had with(a) Oxfam and (b) Save the Children following the ban. [76906]
§ Clare ShortApplications by Save the Children and Oxfam to act as implementing partners for the WFP feeding programme have not yet been approved by the Ministry of Social Welfare in Zimbabwe. The UN takes the view, as do I, that these highly respected and experienced organisations could make an important contribution to the feeding effort. Discussion continues between the UN, the NGOs and the Zimbabwe authorities. DFID has been fully consulted, and maintains an on-going dialogue on operational concerns for these and other UK based NGOs in Zimbabwe.