§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid her Department plans to make available to Burundi in the next five years. [60249]
§ Clare ShortMy Department does not have a development programme in Burundi. We have hitherto concentrated on meeting urgent humanitarian need and on support for the peace process, including political efforts, support to the mediation efforts and the Special Protection Force, and some grass-roots peace-building efforts. We also have a programme on HIV/AIDS in Burundi.
We will devote more attention to the needs of Burundi in coming months, with the appointment of an official in the region to cover Burundi for DFID, based either in Bujumbura or, in the first instance, in Kigali. We are also working to ensure that the EC and IFIs re-engage effectively with Burundi to provide much needed assistance.