§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department has given to deal with the food shortage in Mauritania. [87093]
§ Clare Short[holding answer 16 December 2002]: We have provided US$158,563 to World Food Programme (WFP) in 2002 for food assistance to Mauritania. A further emergency appeal from the WFP is expected shortly. This is expected to cover food shortage needs of five countries in the region, including Mauritania. We will be considering this appeal and are also considering a related proposal from Oxfam. Funding is also provided via the EC, of which DFID share around 19 per cent. In 2000 (the latest figures available) this amounted to approximately £7.8 million.