§ 54. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received to date about aid to Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonSince the beginning of October, more than 2,700. The Government share the widespread public concern about the famine in Ethiopia.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to how much supplementary food and edible oil the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Ethiopia estimates is needed to deal with famine relief in Ethiopia for the next 12 months and as to how much has now been offered by the donor communities.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Relief and Rehabilitation Commission estimated, in October 1984, that 33,605 tonnes of supplementary foods and 12,060 tonnes of edible oil would be required in the period till the end of 1985. We do not yet know what donors' pledges for 1985 will be.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the most recent estimates of the amount of grain that will arrive at the Port of Assab in Ethiopia for each of the next eight weeks, and as to how much will be in store at the port in each of those weeks.
§ Mr. RaisonThe World Food Programme expects 112,599 tonnes to arrive at Ethiopian ports or at Djibouti in December, and 94,430 tonnes in January. It is not practicable to forecast these arrivals week by week, nor to forecast the precise rate of evacuation from the port at a time when other essential imports (e.g. fertiliser) will also be arriving or consequently to assess the amounts likely to be in store at Assab. The figures include grain from all sources, and their accuracy will depend on the notification to WFP by both the many aid donors and by commercial suppliers.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new proposals for long-term aid to Ethiopia he is considering following the visit to Ethiopia of the Minister for Overseas Development.
§ Mr. RaisonNo proposals for long-term aid were put to me by the Government of Ethiopia during my visit. I shall be considering with our partners in the European Community how we might help most effectively, taking into account any satisfactory programmes agreed between the Government of Ethiopia and the World Bank.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent he is employing the resources and expertise of the Crown Agents in the logistics of obtaining and transporting supplies to assist in the famine situation in Ethiopia.
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§ Mr. RaisonWe are using the Crown Agents in Kenya to obtain relief items for Save the Children Fund and Oxfam.