§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What contingency plans are now being prepared in liaison with intergovernmental and non-governmental humanitarian agencies for co-ordinated humanitarian operations to feed, care for and protect the civilian population in Iraq should there be war. [HL1633]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)The Government are holding regular discussions with other governments, UN agencies, NGOs and other humanitarian actors about contingency planning for a range of eventualities in Iraq. In the event of military action, a key priority would be to minimise the suffering of the Iraqi people. This would include enabling, as quickly as possible, the provision of immediate humanitarian assistance by those best placed to do so; access for other humanitarian actors; and re-establishment of the UN Oil For Food Programme distribution network.
In addition to its ongoing humanitarian programme in Iraq and its annual support for UN agencies' global emergency preparedness activities, the Department for International Development is providing £3.5 million to support UN humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq, including the prepositioning of basic supplies, through funding to UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, OCHA and UNSECOORD. This situation is under close review.