§ 10. Mr. BaileyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures her Department is taking to address the humanitarian crisis in west Africa. [152218]
§ Clare ShortHalf of Sierra Leone is under RUF rebel control and all basic services have broken down. One quarter of the population of Sierra Leone is displaced. We are providing £35 million per annum to support Sierra Leone and also supporting the UN peace keeping effort and helping train a new Sierra Leoneian army so that the country can return to peace. Fighting has recently spread to border areas as Liberian packed forces are seeking to destabilise neighbouring Guinea. This has led to the displacement of half a million people many of whom had moved to avoid fighting in Sierra Leone. The UN High Commission for refugees is trying to resettle and provide help to the refugees. We have provided £12 million for this work.