HC Deb 09 May 1990 vol 172 c143W
Mr. John Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received in recent weeks regarding food convoy movements in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

The latest information available on the southern line operation for transporting food across the conflict lines is that in the period 20 March (when the operation started) to 2 May, 61 convoys have carried 8,803 tonnes of food into northern Wello and Tigray. Of this total, 4,214 tonnes have been delivered to Makelle in Tigray. In the six days up to 2 May a total of 2,067 tonnes was delivered.

In addition, substantial amounts of food have been delivered into Eritrea and Tigray by convoys operated by the Eritrean Relief Association (ERA) and the Relief Society of Tigray (REST). We do not have details of movements of convoys along these routes.