HC Deb 21 October 2003 vol 411 c512W
Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 October, reference 131643, how many refugee camps are(a) directly run and (b) indirectly aided by UNHCR; and if he will make a statement. [132907]

Hilary Benn

UNHCR estimates there are nearly 116,000 Liberian refugees in the south of Guinea, including some 67,000 assisted in four camps managed by them. The rest are spontaneously settled in urban centres. UNHCR is registering newly arrived refugees in border areas and arranging for them to be transferred to the camps. They are coordinating with other agencies to provide food, water and sanitation to newly arriving refugees.

My reply of 14 October to the hon. Member should have made it clear that, while our support to refugees is through UNHCR and other agencies, and in that sense is not direct, £600,000 of our support to UNHCR this year was specifically allocated for Liberian and Ivorian refugees in Guinea. I apologise for my misunderstanding.