§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the famine in Tanzania and her Department's response to it. [78772]
§ Mr. FoulkesParts of Tanzania suffered from severe drought in late 1997. The effects of this on Tanzanian agriculture were exacerbated by EI Nino-related flooding in early 1998. So far this year there has been a lack of rain in many areas. The cumulative effect has been an increase in vulnerability of already poor people. The Government of Tanzania are planning to distribute food to some 1.2 million people living in the worst affected regions. The Department for International Development (DFID) provided about £1 million of support in late 1997/early 1998. The World Food Programme is coordinating a relief programme, recently extended until June, in the Dodoma and Singida Regions: DFID support since October 1998 has amounted to £400,000. The main rains are now due to begin in Tanzania. This will be a critical period. DFID staff will continue to monitor events very closely over the next few months.