§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made any estimate of the cost to Burkina Faso of the civil war in Ivory Coast and neighbouring countries; and what extra assistance they have provided for refugees and returnees. [HL4459]
§ The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos)We have not made any independent estimate but are aware, from assessments carried out by international agencies such as the IMF and World Bank, of the serious adverse impact on the Burkinabé economy of the conflict in Côte d'lvoire and neighbouring countries. These impacts have been factored into programmes of assistance to Burkina Faso recently agreed by the two institutions.
Our direct response to the crisis in Côte d'lvoire has focused on assistance (amounting to £0.9 million) to internally displaced people and refugees of many nationalities, including Burkinabés, within Cote d'lvoire itself. We also contribute via programmes of the EU who in May approved 5.74 million euros to assist vulnerable groups affected by the conflict. Of this sum. 2.1 million euros will be used to assist refugees and returnees to neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso.