Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about her development aid policy towards Ethiopia. [124502]
§ Clare ShortWe have reviewed our development relationship with both Ethiopia and Eritrea in the light of the recent renewed conflict.
We have concluded we should maintain only interventions related to food security and activities with 85W civil society. We are pressing the World Bank and EU to follow suit. Our briefing on the situation in Ethiopia has been placed in the Library.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation of the Eritrean refugees in eastern Sudan. [124075]
§ Clare ShortThe United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirms that since 18 May up to 50,000 Eritrean refugees have fled from the conflict with Ethiopia and crossed the border into eastern Sudan near Kassala. 41,000 are already registered. The situation in the refugee camps is not critical, but UNHCR say that water, health and sanitation are the main priorities. The World Food Programme is also engaged on the ground as is the European Commission through Oxfam. Other international non-governmental organisations are carrying out further urgent needs assessments. We are ready to respond to proposals arising from these assessments.