§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will ask the UN Relief and Recovery Unit to publish reports confirmed of confirmed incidents of(a) politicisation and (b) the corrupt use of (i) international food aid and (ii) GMB grain in Zimbabwe. [135346]
§ Hilary BennThe World Food Programme (WFP) have agreed with all their implementing partners a protocol for reporting irregularities, and in particular political interference, in relation to the distribution of donor-funded food aid. which accounts for the large majority of food being distributed in Zimbabwe this year. This information is shared with donors and implementing partners. We believe that, so long as there is no damage to the effectiveness of international humanitarian operations in Zimbabwe, the UN should also make this information available publicly. We and other donors are discussing this with the UN as part of the present review of the UN's Relief and Recovery Unit (RRU).
Despite continual pressure from WFP, the Government has provided very little information about its own plans and activities in relation to food and grain distribution which it funds itself, distributed by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). The UN agencies do not have a formal role in monitoring the activities of the GMB, in which donor funding is not involved. However, some local non-Governmental Organisations do monitor food supplies, including those from GMB, and publish reports locally.