§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is offering for the reconstruction effort in Bam, Iran, in the aftermath of the earthquake. [152529]
§ Hilary BennFollowing our immediate support to the emergency phase of the Bam earthquake response, we have committed a further £2 million towards the rehabilitation effort.
1046WThis additional support is focused on the restoration of primary health care services in partnership with the World Health Organisation (£0.5 million); the implementation of a mid-term sanitation programme in partnership with the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF (£0.5 million); the restoration of agricultural based livelihoods, focusing on the rehabilitation of wells and procurement of pumps, livestock restocking and the replacement of agricultural tools in a joint United Nations Development Programme—Food and Agricultural Organisation partnership (£0.25 million) and also through the non-governmental organisation Action Contre La Faim (£0.3 million); and further support to the International Federation of the Red Cross's appeal (£0.45 million), including the re-stocking of relief items, continued provision of emergency medical services and capacity building of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
The UK's overall support since the earthquake is £2.95 million, including the UK share of European Community commitments. The European Commission is expected to shortly announce a package of support to the rehabilitation effort. The UK share of this additional commitment would increase our overall support to around £3.7 million.