§ 28. Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nature and extent of the assistance given by the Royal Air Force and other Services in the relief of famine in North Africa.
§ Mr. JohnLast year, the RAF flew more than 2,400 tons of food and grain into the famine area in West Africa. This year the RAF and Army have made available 60 four-ton lorries with spares and two land rovers for famine relief work in West Africa and Ethiopia. Thirty-four 75W of the lorries were airlifted by the RAF and 26, together with the two land rovers, were driven across the Sahara to Niger by the Army. In the last few days a further 11 non-Service vehicles have also been flown into Ethiopia by the RAF and a further nine will be flown in shortly. The Army has also helped in road building in Ethiopia and advised on the improvement of a vital ferry link in West Africa.