§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further programmes of support are planned for the use of British aid in the establishment of a police force in Somaliland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have agreed to help with the provision of basic training and equipment for the police in north-west Somalia—"Somaliland"—within the framework of UNOSOM's overall programme to rehabilitate Somalia's judicial and legal sector. But two planning missions to develop a programme of assistance have been constrained by poor security and problems with local support. We are currrently considering what form our future assistance should take in the light of this.
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§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the programme of the Food and Agricultural Organisation in Somaliland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOn the basis of information received from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, the north-west of Somalia, "Somaliland", receives aid through FAO's programme to Somalia which currently totals £5.4 million. Many projects cover more than one region including the north-west. In addition, projects specific to the north-west are:
- Urgent rehabilitation of abattoirs and Brucellosis monitoring in the north (Hargeisa): £112,000
- Fishing gear for fishermen at Berbera and neighbouring fishing communities: £10,000
- Income generating activities in Boroma districts: £11,000
- Emergency provision of hand tools to returnee farmers in rain-fed areas of north-west Somalia: £52,000
- Hargeisa pesticide spill control: £243,000.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to upgrade the level of British assistance to Somaliland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have committed approximately £3.8 million of bilteral humanitarian assistance to north-west Somalia—"Somaliland"—since May 1991 mainly through British and international nongovernmental organisations.
We intend to continue to help meet humanitarian needs as they arise and to help support the police sector providing conditions in the region permit the effective delivery of aid.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much time has been spent in Somaliland by the leader of the World Health Organisation in Somaliland; how much time has been spent on a per diem basis in neighbouring countries; and if he will report the findings.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydTwo international staff members are serving in the World Health Organisation's sub-offices in Hargeisa and Bossaso. The WHO representative to Somalia has visited the north-west—"Somaliland"—several times to monitor WHO programmes and report on progress. It is not possible to provide details of time spent, by WHO representatives, per diem in neighbouring countries.
During these meetings, and through regular contact with Somaliland representatives at the WHO sub-offices, a plan of action has been agreed in line with needs, including support for tuberculosis control, malaria control and improvements to existing health care systems.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the detailed programme of action of the World Health Organisation in Somaliland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe World Health Organisation has established, with the authorities in the north-west, "Somaliland", a detailed action plan to strengthen NGO capacity in disease control and treatment. In addition WHO will continue to focus on the provision of primary health care in 1994, by supplying essential drugs and medical supplies and training NGO staff.
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§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the programme of assistance being given by the European Union to Somaliland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe north-west of Somalia, "Somaliland", receives aid through the European Community programme to Somalia. In 1993, the EC provided to Somalia almost 3,000 tonnes of food aid, and 3.8 mecu of emergency assistance. The Community also committed 38 mecu to a rehabilitation programme. The EC does not keep statistics by region within a country.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the cost and achievements of the World Health Organisation in Somaliland.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe north-west of Somalia, "Somaliland", receives aid through the World Health Organisation's programme to Somalia. Since 1991, WHO has provided approximately US$ 5.3 million of emergency assistance to Somalia, concentrating on drug supply, tuberculosis and malaria control and support to health care systems.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the obstacles to intervention by the World bank and other multilateral institutions to giving assistance to Somaliland; and what action he is taking to overcome those difficulties.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMultilateral institutions, including the World Bank, provide assistance to the north-west of Somalia, "Somaliland", as part of their assistance to Somalia as a whole. Among the obstacles affecting their ability to assist Somalia are the unsettled security situation; lack of an effectively functioning Somali Government; and Somalia's arrears to the bank. We are supporting international efforts to restore stability in Somalia. In response to donor pressure, the bank is co-ordinating the development of a comprehensive framework for rehabilitation and reconstruction to help focus the international community's efforts in a post-conflict Somalia.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums of money have been provided in humanitarian aid or for other purposes in(a) Somaliland and (b) other regions of Somalia directly or via non-governmental organisations during the present financial year and in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 21 February 1994]: Since April 1993, we have committed £2.959 million of bilateral humanitarian assistance to Somalia of which £0.645 million has been committed to the north-west region, "Somaliland", through NGOs. The table sets out figures showing the ODA programme of aid to Somalia for each of the past five financial years. Separate figures for the north-west region are available only from May 1991 in respect of humanitarian assistance.
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£000 Humanitarian aid Financial year Total of which assistance to north west Other assistance2 Total ODA aid programme 1988–89 237 — 5,546 5,783 1989–90 — — 2,632 2,632 1990–91 115 — 1,304 1,419
Humanitarian aid Financial year Total of which assistance to north west Other assistance2 Total ODA aid programme 1991–92 2,680 11,819 295 2,975 1992–93 13,945 11,319 1,102 15,047 1 In addition £195 million was allocated in 1991–92 and £1.5 million in 1992–93 to support ICRC activities in Somalia. 2Includes technical co-operation; programme aid; joint funding scheme and £1 million contribution to ICRC in 1992–93 (United Kingdom bilateral development programme closed in January 1991).