HC Deb 26 February 1996 vol 272 c312W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received, and what discussions he has held, about the present funding situation of the UNHCR humanitarian operation in the great lakes region. [17025]

Mr. Hanley

Representations were made by the United High Commissioner for Refugees to the ODA and UK mission officials in Geneva on 4 February and the matter was subsequently discussed by European Union ambassadors in Geneva on 5 February. The release since then of US$ 26 million by the European Commission has now alleviated UNHCR's funding problems.

On 31 January, my noble Friend Baroness Chalker announced a further UK bilateral commitment of £3 million towards the water and sanitation needs of refugees and local population in Tanzania. A large proportion of this will be channelled through UNHCR.