Mrs. SpellmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the total volume of food aid(a) her Department and (b) the EU has delivered to Ethiopia in 2002; and on what dates that food arrived in Ethiopia. [87476]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has provided 4,887 Mts of food aid through the World Food Programme and 6,400 Mts through Save the Children (UK) in 2002. In both cases, food was drawn down from the Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSR) and distributed immediately following our commitment. Both organisations subsequently purchased food locally. WFP paid back into the EFSR in September and SC(UK) will complete repayment this week.
We understand that the EU has so far provided 99,800 Mts of food aid in 2002. Of the 99,800 Mts, 22,800 Mts was delivered through the World Food Programme. We are told that it is difficult to produce actual delivery dates as the 99,800 Mts was purchased 707W locally. A further 22,800 Mts will be delivered by the end of December. DFID contributes almost 20 per cent. of the cost of EU assistance.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what volume of food(a) her Department and (b) the EU has pledged to Ethiopia for 2003; and when she expects these food deliveries to arrive in Ethiopia. [87477]
§ Clare ShortIn addition to the 11,287 Mts of food aid we provided in 2002, we have just approved the provision of 2,577 Mts of supplementary food aid through CARE International for 2003 for 286,300 vulnerable people in East and West Hararghe zones. It is expected that this will be delivered in the first two months of 2003. We are keeping the situation in Ethiopia under continuous review and are considering the provision of further food aid for 2003.
On 9 December, in response to the December Emergency Appeal, the European Union announced the provision of 260,000 Mts of food aid for Ethiopia in 2003. We understand that they expect that this will be delivered in March-April 2003. DFID contributes almost 20 per cent. of the cost of EU assistance.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the level of Ethiopia's food deficits for the first quarter of 2003. [87478]
§ Clare ShortIn the Joint UN/Government of Ethiopia Appeal, which was launched on 7 December, it was indicated that the food needs for Ethiopia in the first quarter of 2003 would be 410,809 MT.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what was discussed at the meeting of the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council on 9 and 10 December regarding Ethiopia. [87479]
§ Clare ShortEthiopia was not discussed at the GAERC on 9–10 December despite it being on the agenda. However, in response to the Government of Ethiopia/UN Appeal on 9 December the Commission announced a new emergency food aid programme worth £70 million, which is equivalent to 260,000 metric tonnes of cereals.