§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently being given by the British Government to Ethiopia to alleviate the problems of drought, locust and famine in that country.
§ Mr. Chris PattenBritish commitments for famine relief in Ethiopia, through bilateral and European Community channels, total over £45 million since the beginning of 1987. This includes the cost of 94,500 tonnes of bilateral food aid to help in meeting needs during 1988 and £3 million to support airlift operations by the office of the United Nations disaster relief co-ordinator. It also includes assistance with transport, port handling equipment, medicines and grain storage.
We are also assisting with rehabilitation following the 1984–85 famine, including a £1.2 million well rehabilitation project in Welo region.
Since the beginning of 1987 we have provided over £650,000 for emergency assistance in Ethiopia through the Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa.