HC Deb 31 March 2003 vol 402 c500W
Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the UK Government are taking to ensure aid agencies have safe access to endangered populations. [105200]

Clare Short

Humanitarian agencies cannot operate until a permissive security environment has been established. In the interim, the military will discharge their humanitarian obligations under the Geneva Convention and Hague Regulations in order to provide relief in the areas they occupy. Once the situation allows, NGOs will need to undertake their own security assessments before engaging.

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