§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the recent ethnic strife in the Ivory Coast against the civilians from northern Daloa; and what discussions her Department has had with the overnment of the Ivory Coast on the subject. [78678]
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§ Clare ShortWe are working closely with others in the international community to help bring about a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Cote d'lvoire. We are aware of the reported attacks on civilians in Daloa. Together with our EU partners, we have called on the Ivorian Government to ensure respect for human rights, in particular with regard to civilian populations, and to bring to justice those responsible for any violations of those rights.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance her Department has provided to her Department's employees working in the Ivory Coast. [78706]
§ Clare ShortDFID has one employee in Cote d'lvoire. He is working on second month at the African Development bank and is, therefore, covered by their security and emergency evacuation procedures. Current bank advice is that non- essential staff and all families be evacuated.
DFID is following the situation closely and we are in daily contact with him. He is also in receipt of the latest Foreign Office travel advice.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development which organisations her Department supports that work in the Ivory Coast. [78707]
§ Clare ShortDFID support to Cote d'lvoire is channelled primarily through UK contributions to the EC and other multilateral organisations such as the World bank and UN agencies. Direct assistance to Cote d'lvoire is limited to financial contributions that we make to the West Africa Rice Development Association (WARDA) in Bouake and a Small Grants Scheme, administered by the British ambassador in Abidjan. Beneficiaries of the scheme are mainly Ivorian NGO's.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the number of internally displaced people in the Ivory Coast; and what assistance her Department is providing to these people. [78708]
§ Clare ShortAlthough DFID has not undertaken its own independent assessment we are in contact with those UN agencies in the field that are monitoring the situation closely. The UK was represented at the UN Emergency Regional Contingency Planning meeting in Accra on 17 and 18 October which was called to discuss the humanitarian position. Their assessment of the likely humanitarian needs is awaited before we consider how the UK will respond.