§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the importance of anti-parasitic products produced at the Al Shifa plant in maintaining animal health in Sudan. [67645]
§ Clare ShortOur assistance to Sudan is concentrated on the most pressing humanitarian needs and we are not involved in animal health programmes.
22WBecause of the civil war, any drugs produced by the Al Shifa plant in Khartoum would not have been available in the rebel held south, where most of the suffering occurs.
The main threat to animal health in Sudan is rinderpest. The 1998 UN Consolidated Appeal states that
the conflict has completely destroyed the pre-war annual Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign vaccination coverage and animal health services".The long running civil war is the prime cause of suffering in Sudan. We will continue to press both sides of the conflict to undertake serious negotiations towards a lasting and just peace.