HC Deb 19 October 1999 vol 336 c432W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what countries have received direct support from the UK Government since 1997 for mine clearance projects; and if she will make a statement about the effectiveness of the projects. [94667]

Clare Short

My department had funded projects to clear anti-personnel mines and other unexploded ordnance since 1997 in the following countriesAfghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Cambodia, Croatia, Egypt, Georgia, Iraq (Northern), Jordan, Laos, Mozambique, Yugoslavia (Kosovo province).

The projects address urgent humanitarian needs in the context of post-conflict resettlement. They improve access for rural or urban poor to land and services and thus promote sustainable livelihoods.

In order to ensure that the project are effective, they are appraised before approval and monitored during implementation.