§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what representations she has received concerning the continuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq; [104397]
(2) what contingency plans her Department has made to provide for the Iraqi people in the event of discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme in Iraq; [104398]
(3) what representations she has received concerning the number of Iraqi people (a) currently dependent on the UN Oil for Food programme and (b) the projected number of people that may be dependent on food aid after military action in Iraq; [104400]
(4) what representations she has received concerning provision for the Iraqi people in the event of the discontinuation of the UN Oil for Food programme during military action in Iraq. [104399]
§ Clare Short60 per cent. of the people of Iraq—around 16 million people—are currently totally dependent on the UN Oil for Food Programme (OFF).68W We have had many discussions on the continuation of the OFF programme with the UN Secretariat, Security Council members and others. I discussed this with Kofi Annan and his senior officials during my visit to New York on 19 March. Preparations are in hand for a new Security Council Resolution to allow the UN Secretary General to take charge of the Oil for Food (OFF) programme. A draft resolution will be tabled very soon.
The UK has been in discussion with the UN humanitarian agencies, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and international NGOs to determine what resources they require to procure food to cover any temporary gap in the programme. We have committed £20 million to support the contingency preparations of these partners (covering food and other relief). This includes £8 million for the World Food Programme. We have set aside a further £70 million for the immediate humanitarian response and are considering further assistance in line with emerging humanitarian needs.
DFID also provides 19 per cent. of EC funding for Iraq. The EC has committed 21 million euros to the immediate response, and the UK will support the Commission's request to the budgetary authorities for additional humanitarian assistance to Iraq.
The current mandate for OFF runs until 3 June 2003. It is too early to plan in detail what might happen beyond that date.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress the Government have made with the US Administration over a co-ordination of response to the humanitarian relief effort in the event of a major new humanitarian emergency in the area of the Gulf where their military forces are co-operating. [103857]
§ Clare ShortDFID has been liaising with the UN and the US over the last few months to try to ensure that humanitarian considerations are fully taken into account in both the planning of military action and to ensure that humanitarian relief is available throughout the crisis and plans for reconstruction in place. I visited the UN, US Administration, IMF and World Bank on 19 and 20 March to help take this forward.
The immediate responsibility for humanitarian relief lies with the military and both the UK and the US have made preparation. The UN is ready to take forward its humanitarian operations as soon as this is possible. DFID has provided funding to the UN and relevant NGO's to enable them to make preparations. A flash appeal for funds will issue from the UN shortly. Work is also in hand to provide authority to the Secretary General to put in place an Iraqi transitional government so that the international community can come together to support reconstruction. Both the IMF and the World Bank are prepared to engage but need a legally competent government in place.
There is urgent need for a UN resolution to enable the Secretary General to keep the Oil for Food programme going. This provides $10 billion worth of relief annually. Work is in hand to secure such a resolution.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of the numbers of Iraqi civilians who would face 69W hunger and disease in the event of a breakdown of water supplies and food rations lasting longer than seven days. [103947]
§ Clare ShortThere are a number of possible humanitarian scenarios. The UN is currently planning on a 'medium case' scenario. This assumes severe disruption to critical infrastructure and the Iraqi Government's capacity to deliver basic food and relief. Shortages of fuel and power could shut down water and sewage treatment plants. Up to half the population could be without access to potable water and up to 10 million people may require food assistance during and immediately after conflict.
We have been fully engaged in recent months in trying to get the international community to face the humanitarian risks of military action in Iraq, and to make preparations. There has been close collaboration between DFID and the Ministry of Defence to minimise the humanitarian impact of any conflict. A key aim is to minimise damage to the infrastructure on which the Oil for Food distribution network depends, in order that it can be re-established as quickly as possible after any conflict. This is the key to the avoidance of a humanitarian crisis.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the arrangements in place to maintain distribution of food within Iraq under the Oil-for-Food Programme in the circumstances of a military attack on Iraq. [104008]
§ Clare ShortI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) earlier today (PQ numbers 104397, 104398, 104400 and 104399).
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her written statement of 13 March 2003,Official Report, column 21WS, on humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq, what the optimistic assumptions referred to are. [103875]
§ Clare ShortThe optimistic view is that military action will be short with very limited casualties and that the regime will crumble quickly, the Oil for Food programme will be quickly reinstated, UN authority put in place to install an Iraqi Government and the international community work together to support the Iraqi people in reconstructing their country. Progress in implementing the route map to Palestinian statehood would be taken forward at the same time that following military conflict in Iraq, UN agencies will be able to follow quickly behind advancing coalition troops to start addressing the humanitarian needs previously met by the Oil for Food programme, and new needs caused by conflict.