§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on humanitarian aid to Iraq. [151683]
616W
§ Hilary BennDFID has committed £220 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction work in Iraq since the beginning of 2003. In spite of difficulties resulting from the security situation in Iraq, there is no humanitarian crisis in the country. Significant progress has been made since the end of the conflict in restoring essential services, maintaining the Public Distribution System for food rations, reopening hospitals and schools, and beginning the process of longer term reconstruction.
US$33 billion in grants and soft loans was pledged for the reconstruction of Iraq at the Madrid Donors' Conference in October, including over US$18 billion from the USA. The Coalition Provisional Authority, together with Iraqi Ministries, are making significant progress with the reconstruction effort.
DFID will publish its interim Country Assistance Paper for Iraq shortly.