§ Mr. Streeter:To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will monitor aid given to Tanzania to ensure that the Singida region receives assistance in alleviating famine in that area. [131414]
§ Hilary Benn:DFID has made £60 million available as direct budget support (DBS) to the Government of Tanzania (GoT) in 2003–04 to support its Poverty Reduction Strategy, which includes action on food security. The first tranche of DBS has been released. We have received reports that the GoT has released food from its strategic grain reserve and is starting distribution to drought affected areas on the basis of its vulnerability assessment.
§ Mr. Streeter:To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether a representative of the Department attended a meeting called by the Prime Minister of Tanzania on 14 August to request assistance to alleviate food shortages; and what response the Department has made to his request. [131417]
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§ Hilary Benn:The Head of DFID Tanzania and one of her staff attended the meeting called by the Prime Minister of Tanzania on 14 August. The Prime Minister asked the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation to co-ordinate the detailed appeal to donors. WFP is currently finalising the formal appeal for food assistance, which we will consider when we receive it. FAO issued an appeal for assistance for seed and fertilisers on 17 September which we are currently considering.