HC Deb 09 December 1992 vol 215 cc671-2W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which regions of Somalia the United Nations Secretary-General has proposed the use of force to ensure delivery of emergency food aid.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: United Nations Security Council resolution 794 permits the use of all necessary measures by member states throughout Somalia. In practice, we expect use of force only to be necessary in those regions in the south and centre of the country, where the delivery of emergency food aid has been seriously impeded by looting and violence.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reaction Her Majesty's Government have made to the proposal of the United Nations Secretary-General for the use of force to deliver emergency food aid to Somalia.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: Increased security is the key to delivering relief to the starving in Somalia. We have therefore accepted the United Nations Secretary-General's judgment that a larger United Nations military operation by a coalition of member states is necessary to secure the delivery of emergency food aid. We co-sponsored United Nations Security Council resolution 794 of 3 December.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the United Nations Secretary-General to draw up proposals to enable leaders in the north of Somalia, Republic of Somaliland, to establish an effective system of administration and to consolidate the relative peace in that region.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

[holding answer 7 December 1992]: The strategy proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General in July 1992 by the United Nations Security Council, envisages the re-building of institutions and the consolidation of peace throughout Somalia. The United Nations proposes to pursue those objectives on a regional basis. The north-west is one of the regions identified by the Secretary-General. We hope that the implementation of Security Council resolution 794, adopted on 3 December, will create the conditions in Somalia, not only for improved humanitarian relief operations but for effective implementation of the United Nations's plan for rehabilitation and institution rebuilding throughout the country.