§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he is taking to address the long-term causes of environmental vulnerability of poor communities in Haiti and the 127W Dominican Republic following the recent flooding and landslides in the border region between the two countries. [184328]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID responded swiftly to the recent floods in Hispaniola providing £0.5 million of immediate humanitarian support to the relief operation in Haiti through the United Nations and non-governmental organisations. £259,400 of this money will go in support of emergency programmes to relaunch agricultural production and help provide food security, water and sanitation, distribution of non-food items and interventions in emergency education.
The longer-term reconstruction and development needs of Haiti have recently been assessed, costed and set out in a two-year Interim Co-operation Framework covering the period July 2004 to September 2006. One of its specific priority sectors is environmental protection and rehabilitation. An International Donor Conference will take place on 19–20 July in Washington DC at which donors will pledge financial support to Haiti. The UK will participate in this Conference. DFID's financial contribution will be through the EU and shareholdings in the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.
In the Dominican Republic, DFID provides support through a small grants scheme. which assists non-government organisations to target poverty reduction.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to measure the criterion the Department set itself in its current Regional Assistance Plan for the Caribbean of improved understanding of Haiti's situation and options for recovery. [184329]
Mr. Gareth ThomasDFID undertook a fact-finding mission to Haiti in June 2003, in order to become familiar with the situation on the ground. In 2004 DFID sent two missions to Haiti to assess the humanitarian situation, following the political violence and instability in the first quarter of 2004, and the floods in May.
DFID works closely with an international network of bilateral and multilateral institutions working to support Haiti, including the Haiti Contact Group co-ordinated by the World Bank. The UK will be represented at the upcoming International Donors Conference on Haiti, to be held in Washington on July 19 and 20, which will focus on securing donor support for the Interim Co-operation Framework.
DFID also maintains contact with civil society organisations in order to get their perspective on the situation in Haiti. DFID officials met with UK NGOs working in Haiti in May 2004 and DFID receives regular information from civil society organisations through various channels, including the Haiti Support Group.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how he will work with the EU to ensure that EU aid to the interim Haitian Government is conditional on ensuring that the aid is directed towards those most in need. [184331]
Mr. Gareth ThomasThe provision of EU aid to Haiti under the European Development Fund (EOF) has been subject to constraints applied by member states128W within the Common Position since January 2001. EOF 8 funds have only been available for civil society projects and electoral support. On 16 July, the appropriate measures put in place by the EU in relation to Haiti under Article 96 of the Cotonou agreement were amended and the European Commission will notify the interim Haitian Government of the funds available under EOF 9.
EU development assistance can be provided only after free and fair elections have been held. Once funds start to flow, DFID will monitor how these are spent as part of our continuing watching brief on Haiti. DFID will be particularly keen to ensure that poverty reduction is the principal focus of this assistance.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking for immediate release of funds for Haiti under the European Development Fund (EDF 9). [184332]
Mr. Gareth Thomas¢27 million from EDF 8 will continue to support programmes of direct benefit to the population of Haiti through civil society organisation and the electoral process.
On 16 July, the European Council agreed that the appropriate measures, which had been in place by the EU in relation to Haiti under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement, should be amended. This decision means that the European Commission will now notify the interim Haitian Government of the level of funding under EOF 9 which is available to Haiti, and will proceed to draft the new Country Strategy Paper.
Under EOF 9, ¢95 million is available to Haiti. Of this ¢72 million cannot be disbursed until the Country Strategy Paper is developed, and free and fair elections have been held. At this point the National Indicative Programme will be prepared which sets out how the detail of these funds will be used. The other ¢23 million, under EOF 9, can be released prior to the signing of the National Indicative Programme.