HC Deb 25 June 1993 vol 227 cc295-7W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in establishing police forces in Somalia.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

During the first months of 1993, UNOSOM and UNITAF provided assistance for the establishment of auxiliary police forces in various parts of Somalia including Mogadishu, Baidoa, Bardera, Belet Huen and Kismayo. These forces, numbering 5,000 officers, were reconstituted as the Somalia Police Force on 4 May 1993. Local police forces also operate in Hargeisa and Bossaso.

UNOSOM II is now preparing a plan for the establishment of police, prison and judicial systems throughout Somalia. The Overseas Development Administration's overseas police adviser will visit Somalia in July to determine how best Her Majesty's Government can support the development of police forces in the north-west.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the Government's and EC's programmes approved within the past year geared to the reconstruction of Somali society.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Our bilateral emergency relief assistance has supported the reopening of schools, provision of basic health, water and sanitation services, supply of seeds and tools for farmers and help for the reintegration of displaced persons. We continue to explore with relief agencies the potential for further support for rehabilitation activities and have offered funds and technical expertise for project identification missions.

EC assistance has supported a de-mining programme and the provision of veterinary services and water supplies. A joint EC/member states team plans to visit Somalia next month to identify potential areas for EC rehabilitation assistance to be funded from the special initiative for Africa, agreed at the 25 May Development Council.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by(a) his Department and (b) the EC of the adequacy of their response to the Somali crisis since the beginning of 1992.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission were among the first to respond to the crisis in Somalia with the provision of food and non-food emergency assistance. Since January 1992 British bilateral humanitarian aid commitments have totalled over £27 million. EC commitments have totalled almost £100 million of which the United Kingdom share is £16.68 million.

The capacity of all aid agencies to operate effectively continues to be constrained by prevailing security conditions. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development led an EC troika of Development Ministers in September 1992 to assess needs and has seconded an ODA official to the office of the United Nations Secretary-General's special representative to Somalia, Admiral Howe, to help plan the process of recovery and to provide advice on how we might assist. A joint EC/member states team plans to visit next month to assess the future EC aid programme.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates over the last five years(a) the World Health Organisation, (b) the Food and Agricultural Organisation and (c) UNICEF have been operating in Somalia; and what are their current activities.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Until 1991 WHO, FAO and UNICEF operated continuously in Somalia. From 1991 to date their provision of support for relief operations in Somalia has continued, although at various stages international staff have been withdrawn.

UNICEF activities include the provision of primary health care, food for mothers and children and restoration of water supplies. FAO supports the provision of emergency seeds, veterinary services and the re-equipping of farmers and fishermen. WHO is supporting the establishment of an epidemiological surveillance system, control of communicable diseases and the supply of essential drugs.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the policy of(a) UNITAF and (b) UNOSOM 2 in respect of disarming the warring factions in Somalia.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Broadly, UNITAF carried out disarmament when it was considered essential to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The mandate for UNOSOM II granted by UNSCR 814 emphasised the crucial importance of disarmament and the urgent need to build on the efforts of UNITAF. This process has already begun.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations about its civil reconstruction activities in Somalia since the UNITAF deployment.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have had frequent contact with the United Nations over the issue of civil reconstruction, must recently during the visit to New York earlier this month by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development. We have also participated in the several UN-sponsored conferences that covered the issue, including the meeting in Nairobi on 22 June.