§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is providing to Yugoslavia to help that country deal with its refugee problem. [46267]
§ Clare ShortHumanitarian assistance in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including assistance for refugees, is co-ordinated by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the European Commission Humanitarian Affairs Office (ECHO). The UK provides funds for these agencies, including 19.7 per cent. of the ECHO budget.
We have already agreed with the FRY authorities that our bilateral programme will focus on providing technical assistance for institution and capacity building, and for economic and social reform, as described in our Country Strategy Paper. Within this strategy we are developing a £3.2 million social policy reform programme that will improve the delivery of social welfare, health, employment and education services. This programme pays particular attention to refugees and internally displaced persons. We are also 873W working closely with the World Bank in the design of a credit package aimed at improving social welfare, education and health services.