§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds Her Majesty's Government have allocated to provide humanitarian aid to those suffering in the conflict in the Moluccas. [128813]
§ Clare ShortMy Department is not currently funding relief operations in the Moluccas, but is willing to do so if safe access is obtained to make the necessary needs assessments. The rise in violence is preventing effective and impartial humanitarian access and has forced most relief agencies to evacuate and suspend their operations. We will continue to monitor the situation through our contacts in the few remaining operational agencies and will reassess our inputs once the security situation stabilises and humanitarian access is once again guaranteed.
A DFID team has just returned from Indonesia where they were advising the United Nations on possible options for engagement in conflict reduction activities. We have also seconded a humanitarian specialist to the United Nations in Jakarta. He is assisting with the co-operation of relief efforts throughout Indonesia, whether resulting from natural disasters or conflicts as in the Moluccas.