§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources her Department has allocated in response to the appeal made by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health for medical assistance on 16 December 2002. [112737]
§ Hilary BennIn December 2002 the Ethiopian Ministry of Health requested $21 million to address drought related health problems. Since then the UK has provided £5.12 million for health and nutrition related humanitarian activities through international NGOs and UN agencies, and contributed a further £18.38 million in emergency food aid.
§ Mr. RoyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid has been sent to help those suffering from drought in Ethiopia. [112603]
§ Hilary BennThe humanitarian situation in Ethiopia remains a matter of concern.
DFID has made available some £37.6 million for humanitarian support since the beginning of 2002. This has included £17 million for food-aid through the UN World Food Programme for Ethiopia since the end of December. In addition DFID also contributes about 19 per cent, of EC assistance.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation in Ethiopia, and we remain fully committed as always to playing our part in responding rapidly to urgent humanitarian need.