§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many(a) casualties and (b) injuries have been recorded each month in Bosnia (i) during the mandate of the International Peacekeeping Force and (ii) since the establishment of the Stabilisation Force; and if he will make a statement. [131792]
Mr. Gareth ThomasWe do not hold this information. In regard to UK military personnel, there have been a total of 29 deaths since December 1995.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many de-mining programmes have been in operation in Bosnia per annum since 1997; how much aid his Department has contributed to each programme per annum(a) directly, (b) through the EU and (c) through the UN; and if he will make a statement. [131891]
Mr. Gareth ThomasThe UK bilateral contribution to demining in Bosnia since 1997 is £1 million which was paid in 2000–01 into the International Trust Fund (ITF) for demining. The ITF is an international body of which the UN is a partner. These funds were used to support demining operations in the Kupres region of the country with priority being given to agricultural areas and areas being used for refugee return.
The following table shows the contribution from the EU to demining operations in Bosnia from 1998–2001 (figures obtained from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) website).
EU contribution to demining in Bosnia US$ Total UK share of EU funding (%) 1998 2,583,000 19.1 1999 5,640,000 17.75 2000 3,330,806 19.66 2001 5,293,412 18.9 DFID will make a further contribution to demining in Bosnia this year of £150,000 which will be paid via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This is our first direct contribution to the UN for demining in Bosnia. These funds will be used to support capacity building of the National Mine Action Authority, improving national survey mechanisms, database co-ordination, development of transparent priority-setting processes, and improving senior and middle management skills through UNDP-sponsored training courses.
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§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what de-mining programmes were(a) initiated and (b) directly run in Bosnia since 1997. [131892]
Mr. Gareth ThomasSince 1997 National and International NGOs, the UN, the International Trust Fund for Demining (supported by various donors) working through the Bosnian mine action authorities have run programmes covering the following activities in Bosnia; advocacy and prevention, co-ordination, information, integrated mine action, mine awareness, mine clearance, research and development and victim assistance.