HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc85-6W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what additional resources she has made available to Mozambique following the recent flooding. [124058]

Clare Short

My Department committed £20 million for emergency humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to Mozambique following the floods. We also provided £10 million of budget support in March 2000 to help counteract the effect of the floods on the Government of Mozambique's budget.

At the Rome Conference in May this year my Department pledged £6 million so far uncommitted from this year's country development programme for flood reconstruction efforts. We are currently assessing the most effective way to spend this money.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list(a) the projects that her Department is currently funding in Mozambique, (b) their aggregate value and (c) projects postponed or ended as a result of redirection of funding to reconstruction work. [124057]

Clare Short

(a) The projects DFID is currently funding in Mozambique are: Strengthening of Planning and Budgeting at the Ministry of Planning and Finance Enterprise Development Project CRESCE Mozambique: Expansion of Microfinance Programme Customs Department Reform Zambezia Agricultural Development Project National Programme for Agrarian Development Feeder Roads in Zambezia Assistance to the NGOs Forum of Zambezia Demining in Zambezia: HALO Trust Social Marketing of Condoms HIV/AIDS Strategic Planning Support for National Health Planning Secondary English Teaching Project.

(b) The aggregate value is £53 million. In addition we provide support to Mozambique's budget averaging about £10 million per year, and have committed £20 million to flood relief this year.

(c) No projects have been postponed or ended as a result of redirection of funding to reconstruction work.

Mr. Streeter

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the response of the European Community Humanitarian Office to the flooding in Mozambique. [124569]

Clare Short

Reports indicate that ECHO projects were able to progress without delay, despite some claims of delays in transfer of funding. My Department is sending a monitoring team to Mozambique in mid-June. One of their tasks will be to liaise with ECHO officials on the ground to assess the effectiveness of their response.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Mozambique. [123918]

Clare Short

The humanitarian situation in Mozambique has continued to improve as the flood waters have receded and road access has improved. However, the continued provision of emergency assistance to those worst affected by the floods will remain essential while longer term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts get into full swing. For example, the World Food Programme is continuing to make food deliveries to over 500,000 people, which includes some 10,000 still accommodated in displacement camps and unable to return to their homes due to the residual flooding.

Those who have returned home are beginning to rebuild their houses and plant crops. Many have been provided with materials and tools provided under relief projects. There have been no major outbreaks of communicable diseases and agencies are working effectively with the Mozambican authorities to rehabilitate schools and health units.