§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have detected any shortcomings in the quantity and effectiveness of humanitarian relief to Iraq; what action they are taking to put right any such shortcomings; and what they are doing to ensure that the occupying powers are fulfilling their humanitarian obligations. [HL2750]
§ The Secretary of State for International Development (Baroness Amos):Our humanitarian strategy seeks to provide support where there is greatest need. We prepared for a range of contingencies before the conflict. UN agencies have been preparing for months and pre-positioned stocks in the region. We judge that the UN is better prepared for this crisis than it has been for any other in the recent past. We look to the UN to co-ordinate the international humanitarian response. DfID has been monitoring the humanitarian situation very closely and responding flexibly as events unfold.
Broadly, the humanitarian crisis feared has not emerged. There has not been any substantial movement of people, food and medical supplies have broadly held up, though there is a need to ensure new supplies are available over the coming months. The key concerns have been law and order, and restoring essential public services. Progress has been made on law and order in the south, and progress is now beginning to be made in areas under US control. Water and power services have been restored across large parts of the country. There is still much to be done.
The coalition military has been providing immediate humanitarian support, in line with obligations under the Geneva Convention and the Hague regulations. Our forces have provided such support with great professionalism. DfID has seconded two humanitarian specialists to work with UK forces and to advise on relief activities—we will be seconding further advisers in the coming days.
The Office for Reconstruction Humanitarian Affairs (ORHA) is now engaging with the UN, NGOs and local authorities to address humanitarian and immediate rehabilitation needs. For example, it is working with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Iraqi Ministry of Trade to get a food distribution system up and running similar to the Oil for Food programme operation which 16 million Iraqis depended on prior to the conflict. DfID is looking to build up ORHA's capability in key humanitarian areas and to facilitate its work with the UN and other international agencies.
The UN agencies and ICRC have played a key role. The UN role is growing as international staffs arrive and begin to work in Iraq again. The UK has earmarked £115 million to support the UN, Red 50WA Cross/Red Crescent movement and NGOs. DfID has also seconded five specialists to support the UN effort.
Regular updates on the humanitarian situation—including periodic reviews by sector—are available from our website www.dfid.gov.uk