§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of people who are refugees from the war in Croatia and how they are being cared for; and whether the United Kingdom will be providing any financial or other assistance to them.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe latest estimates suggest that 40,000 Yugoslays are currently in Hungary.
UNHCR has a budget of US$2.9 million to provide assistance for 15,000 refugees for the period October to December 1991. The League of Red Cross Societies is also contributing and has just launched a new appeal to cover the needs of some 20,000 people over a further three-month period. Some 40 per cent. of the UNHCR budget is spent on food allowances, the remainder on 43W domestic items, heating allowances, sanitation and registration equipment. The 1992 UNHCR budget is currently being finalised.
I also refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 3 December at columns 96–97, to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber (Sir R. Johnston) on 21 November at column 292 and to the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 9 December at column 277.