§ 7. Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what plans he has to provide aid to address health problems in Ethiopia. [137789]
§ Hilary BennWe support health in Ethiopia in a number of ways. Our plans for development partnership include direct budget support to assist the implementation of Ethiopia's poverty reduction strategy, This should benefit health, in accordance with Ethiopia's own priorities. Details of this are set out in our Country Assistance Plan for Ethiopia; an initial contribution of £10 million budget support was made earlier this year.
In addition we contribute to the health sector through our support to help improve the effectiveness of the national response to HIV/AIDS, and we support emergency humanitarian health interventions where urgent needs are identified.
§ 15. Mr. BorrowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the famine relief programme in Ethiopia in 2002–03. [137797]
§ Hilary BennThe famine relief programme was reasonably timely, well resourced, and well implemented The possibility of famine was identified early and help was quickly sought from external donors308W who responded generously. The primary response was the provision of food aid to selected communities and targeted households with communities. Our monitoring indicates that the food was sent and distributed according to the plan.
In some areas high level of humanitarian need persisted in spite of the provision of food aid, reflecting the need for medical and public health interventions. DFID also provided this additional support in these areas.
Looking ahead we recognise that food aid is not always the best, or only vehicle. We are looking into alternative approaches with other donors and with the Government of Ethiopia.