§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania on providing assistance to them following the recent bomb attacks. [64293]
§ Mr. FoulkesI have been asked to reply.
Discussions with the Kenyan Government began immediately following the 7 August bomb explosion in Nairobi. This Department has provided £2.526 million in emergency assistance, including £1.5 million worth of information technology and communications equipment for the Kenya National Examinations Council and similar equipment worth £1 million for the Co-operative Bank, the head offices of both organisations having been devastated by the bomb. Other assistance included visits by plastic surgeons and structural engineers.
The bomb in Dar es Salaam resulted in much less loss of life, injuries and damage than Nairobi. The Prime Minister wrote to President Mkapa on 8 August offering assistance, but no request was received.