§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of her Department's funding for the UNHCR has been allocated to support(a) Afghan refugees and (b) Iraqi refugees. [106915]
§ Clare ShortMy Department provided a total of £5.8 million to UNHCR's Afghanistan Appeal in the 2002–3 financial year. This allocation includes £1.8 million agreed in March 2003 as part of a package of emergency support for Afghan refugees.
For Iraq, between February and March 2003 we gave £1.75 million towards UNHCR's Supplementary Programme Budget for contingency planning and preparedness., We are in regular contact with UNHCR. They report that there have been no significant arrivals of refugees reported into any of the countries neighbouring Iraq. UNHCR is continuing its border monitoring and preparations in the Iraq region. We are committed to supporting an effective international humanitarian response and remain ready to contribute funds in the event of a refugee outflow. This is in addition to our contribution of £65 million to the UN Flash Appeal launched on 28 March in New York by Louise Frechette, the Deputy Secretary-General.