§ 13. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's aid programme in Iraq, with particular reference to the protection and safety of aid workers. [137795]
§ Hilary BennDFID has committed £209 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. About £151 million of this funding is being channelled through the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental310W organisations. At the Madrid Donors' Conference on Iraq, on 23 to 24 October, the Government announced that the UK would commit a further £296 million towards reconstruction in Iraq up to March 2006, including £29 million as our share of planned European Community spending.
In the current security circumstances in Iraq, the safety of aid workers is of particular concern. In view of recent attacks on their offices, it is fully understandable that the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations should review their security procedures and ways of working, even if that means temporarily reducing their presence in the country. DFID has offered £3 million towards UN security measures in response to an appeal following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad in August. DFID has also offered additional finance, if needed, for increased security provisions for those NGOs that we are supporting in Iraq. DFID, and other Government Departments, have put in place special security provisions for their own staff working in Iraq.
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he estimates there is adequate clean water for the rations of infant formula being delivered in Iraq; and what measures are being taken to encourage breast feeding. [136986]
§ Hilary Benn50 per cent. of Iraqis now have access to piped water and the Ministry of Public Works plan to increase this to 70 per cent. by December 2004. In addition, water tankering by UNICEF provides 14.6 million litres of water to deprived areas of Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, and Kirkuk, benefiting over 825,000 people.
UNICEF promotes breast feeding among its activities for child development, and assists malnourished children in therapeutic feeding centres. Despite the security situation, they are still implementing a number of programmes including health education and breastfeeding promotion.