§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capacity of the joint relief partnership to meet the needs of the people of Wollo and Gonder for emergency assistance; and whether the British Government will provide financial help to the Ethiopian relief organisation to implement its programme of internal purchase to allow Ethiopians in these areas to feed themselves.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe joint relief partnership, using the southern line, should be able to meet substantially the emergency needs of the people of Wollo and Gondar. This will depend however on continued supplies of food arriving at Assab and on securing conditions allowing the southern line to be kept open. We are providing assistance through the southern line. We have no plans at present to finance internal purchase arrangements.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of aid for the Wollo and Gondar regions of Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe emergency needs of the people of Wollo and Gondar should be able to be met substantially through the operations of the joint relief partnership, using the southern line. This will depend however on continued supplies of food arriving at Assab and on security conditions allowing the southern line to be kept open. We are providing assistance through the southern line.