HC Deb 11 December 1996 vol 287 cc216-7W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current humanitarian requirements of the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [8576]

Dr. Liam Fox

According to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs on 2 December, £52 million had so far been pledged by donors in response to the UN inter-agency appeal for the Great Lakes region. This does not include a commitment of £129 million agreed by the European Union on 6 December. The appeal covered total estimated requirements for food aid up to June 1997 and certain other requirements up to January 1997 estimated altogether at £155 million. The Government of Rwanda have also revised their programme to reintegrate returning refugees and re-establish productive communities. On 20 November, my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a commitment of £10 million to address immediate needs in the Great Lakes region.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [8575]

Dr. Fox

The region remains unstable and afflicted by violence. The security situation in Burundi is of particular concern. We continue to support regional efforts to resolve the underlying political problems, and welcome President Moi's intention to convene a further regional summit on Nairobi on 16 December. We also look forward to the report of the UN special envoy to Zaire and the Great Lakes, Ambassador Chretien.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to facilitate the holding of an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region of Africa. [8579]

Dr. Fox

We are committed with our EU partners to early preparations for a conference in peace, security and development in the Great Lakes, under UN-Organisation of Africa Unity auspices. EU envoy Aldo Ajello continues to work to facilitate such a conference. We await the report of UN special envoy Ambassador Chretien, who has been tasked to consider next steps on the conference. We see an important role for regional summits such as that planned for Nairobi on 16 December in preparing the ground for a wider conference.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has recently held with representatives of the Governments of(a) Zaire, (b) Rwanda, (c) Burundi, (d) Uganda and (e) Tanzania. [8577]

Dr. Fox

My right hon. and learned Friend met His Excellency the President of Tanzania on 11 November. We are in regular contact with representatives of the Governments in the region in the search for lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current refugee situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa, with particular reference to(a) the numbers of refugees, (b) the geographical situation of the refugees and (c) the health of the refugees. [8578]

Dr. Fox

On numbers and location, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to Lord Judd in another place on 5 December,Official Report, House of Lords, column 61. The condition of refugees in camps in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda is generally good. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that substantial numbers of refugees remain beyond the current reach of aid agencies in eastern Zaire. Their condition is unknown but is a cause for concern. With the international community, we are pressing the parties to the conflict to allow access to those in need.

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