§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional bilateral aid Her Majesty's Government intend to make available to the Government of Pakistan from September when UNHCR stops all funding of Afghanistan refugees in Pakistan, including food and schools; what discussions Her Majesty's Government are undertaking with EU330W states to assist Pakistan in supporting Afghan refugees, including the supply of wheat; and if he will make a statement. [19989]
§ Mr. BaldryOur assistance to Afghan refugees is channelled through NGOs and international agencies, rather than through the Pakistan Government. In the past year we have provided approximately £3 million for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and in March 1995 we provided £1.28 million of food aid through CARE for relief programmes inside Afghanistan. We will consider further contributions during the course of the year.
The EU has for many years been one of the main providers of food aid for refugees in Pakistan and those returning to Afghanistan. A joint UNHCR—World Food Programme food assessment mission arrived in Pakistan on 21 April. It will discuss its findings with representatives of donors, including EU member states, in Islamabad.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government against decisions by UNHCR to reduce and, from September, to stop all aid to refugees from Afghanistan in Pakistan except to those families deemed vulnerable; and what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government against a decision to stop funding all schools for Afghan refugee children in Pakistan from September. [19987]
§ Mr. BaldryUNHCR has made no decision to stop all funding of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, including food and schools, from September.
However, last year's joint UNHCR—World Food Programme food assessment mission concluded that the across-the-board care and maintenance programme should not continue after 30 September 1995. Aid will continue to be targeted at those most in need, the food assessment mission having found that many Afghan refugees in Pakistan were self-reliant and enjoyed a higher economic and nutritional status than rural Pakistanis. This year's food assessment mission is due to review the situation about now. We and other donors support the view that more UNHCR emphasis should be placed on rehabilitation efforts inside Afghanistan in order to encourage refugees to return home.
UNHCR has no plans to cease primary education for all Afghan refugee children in Pakistan.