§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the use of portable water purification pumps in the area affected by Hurricane Mitch in Central America. [60586]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe provision of safe drinking water following natural disasters is an important part of the disaster response effort in order to reduce the consequential risk of health epidemics. Ensuring that the significant numbers of affected people in Central America obtain safe drinking water is a major challenge. Equipment such as water purification pumps can be helpful in this respect but the form of response must follow good technical appraisal and be appropriate. The work being carried out by the Red Cross, the Pan American Health Organisation and various non-governmental organisations, supported by the British Government, includes the provision of safe drinking water and other basic health care needs. Their efforts and those of the United Nations have helped prevent a health emergency occurring in the region.
Date/journey Destination Purpose Personnel September 1997 Bangladesh View projects 20 September 1997 Sarajevo Visit DFID humanitarian aid programmes 1 October 1997 Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda Visit DFID projects in Entebbe/Soroti/Kigali 8 November 1997 Donetsk Visit KHF projects in the region 4 January 1998 Malawi No commercial flight 2 February 1998 Benja Luka-Sarajevo Visit DFID humanitarian aid programmes 4 May 1998 Guyana Visit Iwo krame Rainforest project 3 June 1998 Vietnam Visit DFID projects in Ha Tinh 4 July 1998 South Africa Visit projects in Bislio, Eastern Cape/Kwa 3 July 1998 Mozambique Visit projects in Zulu, Natal and Maputo 9 August 1998 Tanzania Visit DFID projects in Trnga and Mbeya 3 The average cost of the flights taken to make these trips for the 17 months between May 1997 and September 1998 is £5,050 compared to £10,409 under the last year of the previous Administration.
Average cost for the last Administration is made up of 2 flights undertaken by Baroness Chalker.