HL Deb 02 November 1993 vol 549 c105WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the present position as regards (a) fighting and attacks on civilians; (b) food supplies and health; in each of the UN-protected "safe" areas in Bosnia-Herzegovina: i.e. Sarajevo, Sebrenica, Zepa, Gorazde, Tuzla, Bihar, and also in the city of Mostar.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)

As of 26th October, aid deliveries have been temporarily suspended in central Bosnia following the death of a Danish Refugee Council driver and the wounding of eight other UN aid personnel whose relief convoys came under fire near Novi Travnik on 25 October. Convoys will remain suspended until an UNPROFOR investigation into the incident has been completed and credible guarantees of safe passage obtained from the warring parties. This affects aid deliveries around Mostar and Jablanica, and between Zenica and Tuzla.

Food supplies are continuing to reach Sarajevo regularly through means of an airlift, with 20–28 flights daily, and by land with 3–4 convoys from Belgrade per week.

Elsewhere, convoys from Belgrade are running as normal to the Eastern enclaves (Sebrenica, Zepa and Gorazde), and Tuzla, but the Bosnian Serbs are not allowing delivery of winterisation material to Eastern Bosnia. Mostar, Maglaj and Tesanj are also receiving supplies by means of an airdrop. Only 47 per cent. of aid requirements reached the Bihac region in the first three weeks of October, due to an outbreak of fighting between rival Moslem factions, but deliveries are now almost back to normal. The British battalion group has continued to escort UNHCR convoys and has assisted in the week to 27 October with the delivery of 766 tonnes of aid (running total 69,706 tonnes) in a total of 24 convoys (running total—1,565 convoys).

The first medical evacuations from outside Sarajevo took place in September, from Zenica, Tuzla and Gorazde. Evacuations have continued through October, but with occasional delays due to obstructions by the warring parties in central Bosnia.

The main areas of confrontation are central Bosnia and around Mostar and the northern corridor. The Eastern enclaves are reported to be calm.