§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much(a) funding for 202W humanitarian assistance and(b) food her Department is providing to Ethiopia(i) bilaterally and (ii) through the World Food Programme. [82076]
§ Clare ShortSo far we have made food and non-food humanitarian commitments of some £ 12.3 million in calendar year 2002 for Ethiopia. The food aid element of this figure is £ 2.4 million, which is made up of a £ 1.4 million bilateral contribution through Save the Children UK and £ 1 million through the World Food Programme. In addition we have contributed to the ICRC 2002 Appeal, which is delivering food aid in Afar region. We have also contributed to a GOAL intervention to provide supplementary food to malnourished children in Afar and are supporting Medecins sans Frontieres in similar work in Amhara region.
In October the EC made available €23 million for 97,000 metric tonnes of food aid to cover food needs until the end of 2002. In addition to the food aid provision the EC has approved a€4 million programme of humanitarian aid for the victims of drought. Nearly 20 per cent, of the EC support is funded by the UK.
We are keeping under close review the need to provide more food aid in coming weeks.