§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received about deaths occurring in Omo valley district in southern Ethiopia because of transport difficulties in reaching famine victims; and what the Government and the European Union are doing to overcome these difficulties.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are in touch with the Ethiopian Relief and Rehabilitation Commission—RRC—about the situation. There are no official figures for deaths from326W drought and famine. The terrain in much of the region is mountainous with poor or non-existent roads. Road and air access is difficult; ox carts are often the only means of transporting supplies.
The RRC is planning to carry out a helicopter survey of the remoter areas of the region to assess accurately needs and access routes. We are prepared to help with the survey and with implementing its recommendations.
Since January, we have committed 45,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid to Ethiopia. The EU has committed 264,000 tonnes. We have also provided about £191,000 for seeds and tools and therapeutic feeding centres throughout the Omo region.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what overseas aid Her Majesty's Government are currently providing to Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 23 June 1994]: Gross British bilateral aid to Pakistan for 1992–93—the latest year for which figures are available—was £34.483 million. This consisted of £18.619 million under the ODA's bilateral country programme, £12.676 million in Commonwealth Development Corporation investments and £3.188 million in other aid, including debt relief and drug related assistance.
Recent initiatives include projects in primary education and health, family planning and participatory urban and rural development. Other main sectors covered are land development and irrigation, energy and water and sanitation.