§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning the plight of Colombian refugees(a) seeking to enter and (b) who have already entered Panama; what assistance his Department has offered to the Government of Panama better to deal with the influx of refugees from Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [173437]
§ Mr. RammellOur Embassies in Panama and Colombia provide reporting on movements of people between Colombia and Panama, although it can be difficult to obtain very accurate information. We are also in contact with the recently opened office in Panama City of the United Nations High Commissioner872W for Refugees and other EU missions. We have not provided any assistance to the Panamanian Government on dealing with Colombian refugees and illegal immigrants. The Panamanian authorities work closely with their Colombian counterparts on the border and on repatriation of Colombian nationals. They also work with some international NGOs providing assistance to Colombian refugees.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of(a) the numbers and (b) the (i) economic and (ii) security implications of the internally displaced persons currently within Colombia; how this situation has developed over the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [173260]
§ Mr. RammellOur Embassy in Bogota reports regularly on internally displaced people (IDPs) in Colombia, and discusses the situation with the Colombian authorities and NGOs. Given the nature of the issue, it is very difficult to put a completely accurate figure on the number of IDPs in recent years. Colombian government provided and unofficial statistics differ slightly. According to government statistics 327,606 were displaced in 2001 and 379,289 in 2002. The economic and security implications are loss of income through unemployment, lack of access to education and health care and increased vulnerability. This terrible situation has arisen as a direct result of the armed conflict in Colombia. 2003 showed a marked decline in numbers as the security forces made some headway against the illegally armed groups; according to government statistics 172,851 were displaced in 2003. But the situation is still critical and more needs to be done to address the issue.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK personnel operating at the British embassy, Bogota, are absent from the diplomatic list; for what reason they are absent; what their activities and roles are; and if he will make a statement. [173236]
§ Mr. RammellThere are two lists covering the embassy staff in Bogota, one produced by the Colombian authorities and one produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). All our staff at the embassy are accredited to the Colombian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appear in the Ministry's list as and when it is updated. Regarding the FCO list, only four substantive members of the embassy's staff do not appear in the Diplomatic Service Overseas List. All are junior civilian members of Government Departments undertaking secretarial, administrative or technical duties. It is not our practice to include in the list these categories of staff at our posts.