HC Deb 21 May 2003 vol 405 c820W
Mr. Streeter

To ask the Minister of State for International Development what assessment he has Other made of food insecurity due to lack of rain in the Singida region of Tanzania; and what assistance the Department will provide. [114549]

Hilary Benn

Most parts of Tanzania have experienced exceptionally low rainfall during the current season. Its effects on the June harvest are still unclear. The Government of Tanzania carried out an initial food and crop assessment in May. This will be followed in July by a further assessment to identify particularly vulnerable areas following the June harvest. We await the results of these. DFID is ready to respond to any request the Government of Tanzania may make at that time.