§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Angola; what emergency aid is(a) being delivered and (b) planned by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [58909]
§ Clare ShortMy Department continues to monitor closely the humanitarian situation in Angola, which remains serious. Millions of Angolans are living under life threatening conditions and humanitarian agencies are working at full capacity to alleviate the worst aspects of the humanitarian crisis in the country.
We recently contributed £1 million to the 2002 United Nations Inter Agency Consolidated Appeal for Angola to ensure that critical needs are met and gaps in humanitarian assistance are covered during the sudden onset of emergencies. We also recently contributed £300,000 toward the International Red Cross country appeal for 2002 and £450,000 toward Medecins Sans Frontieres emergency health and sanitation programmes in Kuito, one of the worst effected areas in the country.
We are planning to spend some £2 million on humanitarian aid during the current financial year. We are also examining the potential for a specific DFID contribution to assist with the demobilisation of UNITA fighters.
Her Majesty's Government remains in close contact with the Government of Angola and international partners. We will remain at the forefront of diplomatic and political efforts to ensure that the internationals system engages effectively with the Government of Angola to deliver humanitarian aid more effectively, so that the peace process is reinforced.