§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, at the meeting of United Nations heads of agencies, donors and nongovernmental organisations on 27 June, in New York, Her Majesty's Government will support the proposal to re-establish the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are considering the best organisational response to the serious situation in Africa. As I told the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 17 June, the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa provided excellent inter-agency co-operation from 1984 to 1986. Since its experiences are reflected in current United Nations working practices, re-establishing it now does not automatically guarantee improved co-ordination. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the German Foreign Minister launched a joint initiative on 9 June to improve and support the way the United Nations responds to humanitarian disasters and emergencies including those in Africa.