§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made by Her Majesty's Government to enable the Save the Children Fund to enter northern Iraq. [8654]
§ Dr. Liam FoxWe understand that two members of Save the Children Fund have recently entered northern Iraq.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British aid agencies are operating in(a) northern Iraq and (b) Iraq. [8653]
§ Dr. FoxAs far as we are aware there are eight British non-governmental organisations operating in northern Iraq and one in Baghdad-controlled Iraq.
§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British aid agencies are being denied access to northern Iraq. [8655]
§ Dr. FoxThe usual route for western NGOs carrying out humanitarian work in northern Iraq since 1991 has been via Turkey. The Turkish Government introduced new requirements in August, since when no British NGOs have been given authority to travel into northern Iraq from Turkey. We have raised this on several occasions with the Turkish Government, urging them to allow reputable British NGOs, who have complied with their new requirements, to enter northern Iraq.