Ethiopia

HC Deb 25 March 1986 vol 94 cc439-40W

Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what long-term assistance he proposes for Ethiopia.

Mr. Raison

Our technical co-operation and training programme, which is expected to cost about £1 million a year, will bring long-term benefit, especially through health education and English language training. Ethiopia is the largest recipient of aid from the European development fund, with 230 million ecu (about £154 million) available for commitment between 1986 and 1990. Of this, the British share will be some £26 million.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to Ethiopian needs for vehicles and spare parts for the purposes of famine relief; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Raison

The United Nations co-ordinator in Addis Ababa has estimated that an additional 556 vehicles, to a value of $20 million, and spare parts to a value of $30.5 million are required for the distribution of relief supplies in Ethiopia.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the availability of medical supplies and equipment in Ethiopia and the Sudan.

Mr. Raison

We do not have reliable information on the supplies available. However, the United Nations office for emergency operations in Africa estimates the cost of relief requirements for the health sector in 1986 at $17.45 million for Ethiopia and $14.43 million for Sudan.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amounts of supplementary foods have been pledged to Ethiopia for 1986 to date; what has actually arrived; and what is the estimated net supplementary food need.

Mr. Raison

The World Food Programme reported on 18 March the following figures for food aid for Ethiopia in 1986 (in metric tonnes):

	Skimmed Milk Powder	Edible Oil	Other supplementary foods
Pledges	18,474	21,680	5,124
Deliveries	4,068	9,439	766

The figures for the estimated net supplementary food needs for Ethiopia in 1986 were included in my reply to the hon. Member on 17 February at column 23.

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about air transport facilities currently provided by donor countries to Ethiopia for the purposes of famine relief; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Raison

The United Nations office for emergency operations in Africa reported on 1 February that German Luftwaffe and Red Cross aircraft were assisting famine relief operations in northern Ethiopia. I understand that Polish army helicopters are also helping with famine relief.