§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the levels of food shortages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, broken down by 731W region; and what food aid her Department has provided to the Democratic Republic of Congo, broken down by region. [102745]
§ Clare ShortNo specific assessment of the levels of food shortages broken down by region has been made. The economic devastation resulting from the conflict has led to high malnutrition rates among internally displaced persons, refugees, children and the elderly. It is estimated that some 1.4 million people require urgent food aid.
My department is providing substantial help to efforts directed at reducing the suffering of civilians with urgent humanitarian needs in the DRC. This includes nutritional support to communities where high levels of malnutrition are being experienced. We have committed over £9 million in humanitarian support so far this financial year.
DFID are also providing support to the World Food Programme through its core funding to an agreed work plan.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the number of internally displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, broken down by region; and what support she gives internally displaced people in the country, broken down by region. [102746]
§ Clare ShortAccording to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), over 500,000 people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the beginning of 2002, due mainly to intensified violence in the north-eastern Ituri and eastern South Kivu regions Despite the ceasefire and withdrawal of foreign troops, over 2.5 million of about 50 million Congolese are now displaced. Main causes have been fighting between rebel groups, attacks on civilians and resource plundering. Current UN OCHA statistics as at August 2002 show the following breakdown of internally displaced people (IDPs): Equateur: 85,000 IDPs; Orientale: 250,000 IDPs; North Kivu: 760,000 IDPs; South Kivu: 435,000 IDPs; Katanga: 415,000 IDPs; Man iema: 160,000 IDPs; Eastern Kasai & Western Kasai: 130,000 IDPs; Kinshasa: 40,000 IDPs. This does not take into account the more recent displacements since then including those as a result of the recent fighting in Ituri and in Bunia.
My department's humanitarian support is channelled through the UN agencies, Red Cross and international NGOs. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of assistance by region as we deliberately support agencies with national reach and perspective.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a result of the fighting. [102810]
§ Clare ShortUN and other relief agency reporting shows that there are very serious humanitarian consequences to the fighting in DRC. DFID is providing substantial help to efforts directed at reducing the suffering of civilians with urgent humanitarian needs732W in the DRC. Assistance provided this financial year has been provided through the UN agencies and the ICRC in response to their emergency appeals and through international NGOs in the following areas: health, nutrition, refugees. We have committed over £9 million in humanitarian support so far this financial year.
We stand ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to those in need.