§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department has given in the past six months to Chechnya by way of humanitarian aid. [100052]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Government is deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in the North Caucasus. We are in close touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN agencies about those displaced as a result of the conflict. We have contributed £0.5 million to the ICRC's appeal for the region. The UK has also contributed through its part of the 1.2 million euro earmarked by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO); of this 1 million euro has been disbursed to UNHCR.
Background:
- 1. Precise information on the numbers displaced in the North Caucasus is difficult to obtain. The region is dangerous for expatriates.
- 2. But following western pressure a UN needs assessment team visited Dagestan and Ingushetia in early November. They reported that there are 185,000 IDPs from Chechnya in Ingushetia; 20,000 IDPs from Chechnya in other regions; and 18,000 IDPs within
117W Dagestan. The team concluded "the humanitarian situation is very difficult and is likely to deteriorate unless humanitarian action is enhanced immediately". - 3. We received an appeal from ICRC to which we contributed £0.5 million. We have now also received a UN inter-agency appeal which we are considering.
- 4. This reply is consistent with the draft reply to Lord Moynihan's question answered on 10 November.