§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UN regarding the rights of third country nationals to receive UNHCR care in the transit centres of Grand Gedeh County, Liberia. [101716]
§ Clare ShortAlthough UNHCR is providing shelter and food for many of the estimated 12,000 third country nationals in Liberia, most of whom are from Burkina Faso and Mali, it is not part of its mandate to do so. They are unable to return to their countries of origin because of the closure of the Guinean border by the Guinean authorities. UNHCR has agreed with IOM 173W that they will take over responsibility for third country nationals. We have recently funded a visit to Liberia by [OM to look into the situation of IDPs. We are discussing with them possible funding for a second mission to include an assessment of the situation of third country nationals and the preparation of a plan for their return to their countries of origin, to be used in part to persuade the Guinean authorities to allow them transit through Guinea.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the UN regarding the food scarcity affecting(a) third party nationals, (b) Russian refugees and (c) Liberian returnees in UNHCR transit centres in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia.[101717]
§ Clare ShortDue to the serious deterioration of the security situation in Grand Gedeh County, and the movement of people in response to attacks or fear of attacks, distribution of food rations has been difficult. UNHCR has issued one month's rations to refugees and third country nationals in Zwedru transit camp. Those who are not in reach of the transit centre are almost certainly very short of adequate supplies of food. Third country nationals are prevented from leaving Liberia through Guinea to return to their countries of origin by the closure of the Guinean border by the Guinean authorities. We are keeping closely in touch with UNHCR and IOM on efforts to address this issue.
UNHCR does not know of any Russian refugees in the area.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with the International Organisation for Migration regarding the provision of care to third country nationals in the event of military intervention in Iraq.[101714]
§ Clare ShortMy Department has held several discussions in recent weeks with the International Organisation for Migration (TOM) at their Headquarters in Geneva and with regional representatives in Jordan, Cyprus, Kuwait and Egypt. These discussions have focused on IOM's planning for possible outflows of third country nationals from Iraq. They are preparing for a wide range of scenarios. In the event of movements of large numbers of people, IOM is likely to be the lead agency responsible for the support and transfer of up to 70,000 third country nationals from border areas or from neighbouring countries to their countries of origin, and would assist UNHCR with the movement of asylum seekers from border areas to designated camps. The largest group of third country nationals in Iraq are Egyptians, many of whom might be expected to try to leave the country through Jordan in the event of military action.