§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessments of humanitarian needs have been conducted for Iraq outside the safe haven and Kurdish areas of northern Iraq and of the numbers of people affected; what funding his Department will provide; and by what mechanisms aid will be delivered.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 20 November 1992]: In September of this year, the director of UNICEF and the under-secretary for the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs visited Iraq to assess needs in preparation for a United Nations plan of action covering the whole country, which was published in November. In view of the grave difficulties of access to many areas of southern Iraq, the United Nations has been unable to conduct a detailed needs survey in the south, or to provide detailed estimates of the numbers of people in need of assistance.
But the United Nations needs to further consider how to channel assistance to the more inaccessible areas, following their signature of a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Iraq. WHO and UNICEF have procured drugs and medical supplies for distribution in the south.
We maintain regular contacts with the non-governmental organisations, which are able to gain access to parts of the south. They report that conditions are grim, particularly in the marshes, mainly due to the actions of the Iraqi armed forces.
We continue to support the work of NGOs such as Iraqi civilian aid and the Amar appeal which provide valuable, though of necessity small scale, assistance to some of the most needy people in southern Iraq, and in the refugee camps of Iran. So far in 1992 we have provided nearly £2 million to such agencies, including a recent contribution of £255,000 to the Amar appeal for work in the marshes. We have agreed with Iraqi civilian aid that they will spend the final portion of their £625,000 grant to buy winter clothing for refugees. We are currently considering further medical aid through NGOs to the south. We stand ready to respond to further requests for assistance if conditions permit.