HL Deb 14 April 1999 vol 599 cc123-4WA
The Earl of Sandwich

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much financial aid they have given to (a) United Nations agencies and (b) United Kingdom based non-governmental organisations for refugee and aid programmes since the beginning of the crisis in Kosovo. [HL1896]

Baroness Amos

Since 24 March, the Department for International Development has already spent or committed about £8 million assistance to the Kosovo refugees, including over £1.5 million for air transportation and cargo, £16,000 for an airport handling package for Tirana and £400,000 for a truck convoy for Albania. We have to date agreed cash grants of £0.82 million to UN agencies and £3.274 million to NGOs and the Red Cross. Further expenditure and disbursements are currently being considered.

An additional £3 million was made available for humanitarian assistance to the people of Kosovo between April 1998 and March 1999: of this, £1.5 million was allocated to the UN and £1.5 million to UK-based NGOs.