§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution her Department has made to(a) the World Food Programme for Saharawi refugees and (b) the additional appeal by the WFP for funding for Saharawi refugees in the last year.[77399]
§ Clare ShortDFID has not contributed directly to the World Food Programme (WFP) funding for Saharawi refugees. Our assistance to the Saharawi refugees is channelled through contributions to the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO). A new global plan agreed by the EC in May will provide €14.34 million of assistance to the Saharawi refugees over a 15-month period. The total assistance provided since 1993 is over €95 million, including over €79 million in food aid co-ordinated by ECHO, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the WFP. ECHO works in close co-ordination and 953W co-operation with the WFP to provide basic food items to the Saharawi refugees. 19 per cent. of ECHO funding comes from my Department's budget.