§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the need for humanitarian aid in eastern Zaire; and on what occasions embassy staff have visited this area recently. [1161]
§ Dr. Liam FoxThe key humanitarian problem in eastern Zaire is lack of access to those remaining in refugee camps and those displaced. Agencies believe that there are sufficient stocks available in region to meet immediate needs. The security situation has prevented visits to the area of conflict but our representative in Bujumbura visited Gatumba camp on the Burundi—Zaire border on 28 October where returnees are arriving. Our embassies in Zaire and Rwanda are also monitoring the situation closely.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the great lakes region. [1218]
§ Dr. FoxThere have been 1.7 million refugees in the region since 1994. The current insecurity in eastern Zaire has served to exacerbate an already critical situation. About 500,000 people have been displaced. Agencies report that they have sufficient stocks in the region to meet immediate needs. Political and security difficulties are restricting their delivery. The Government have supported UN and EU efforts to resolve this. Bilateral approaches have been made to Zaire and Rwanda to help defuse the situation.
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