§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent donor governments meeting held in Geneva to discuss what help should be made available for Darfur, Sudan. [178002]
§ Hilary BennOn 3 June, a meeting of donors took place in Geneva to discuss the donor response to the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan. The UK was represented by Alan Goulty, UK Special Representative for Sudan.
The meeting was co-chaired by the UN (Jan Egeland), EU (Tom Kitt, Minister for Development and Human Rights, Ireland) and Constanza Adonolfi, (Director of ECHO), and the US (Andrew Natsios, Administrator USAID). It was well attended by high level representatives of donors, UN agencies, NGOs and the Government of Sudan.
The UN presented a 90 day plan for Darfur, and highlighted the unmet requirements of the Darfur and Chad appeal ($236 million). Pledges in response to this request amounted to approximately $57 million Additionally, the US pledged $188 million to be disbursed from 4 June to the end of 2005.
The UK representative noted our commitment of over £19.5 million ($36.6 million) and anticipated that a further substantial commitment would be made during my visit to Sudan. I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on Wednesday 9 June, (column 275) where I stated that I had announced further funding of £15 million ($28.3 million).
At the meeting in Geneva, donors and humanitarian agencies including the UK stressed to the Government of Sudan the need to ensure the protection and security of its citizens, to respect human rights, and to actively implement the provisions of the Ceasefire agreed on 8 April. All parties to the conflict should provide full and unfettered access to humanitarian organisations.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the Government is providing to(a) the Government of Sudan and (b) non-governmental organisations operating in Sudan, indicating in each case (i) the amount and (ii) the use to which funds are being put; and if he will make a statement. [175873]
§ Hilary BennDFID does not provide any direct financial assistance to the Government of Sudan. However, our embassy in Khartoum engages with the Government on a wide range of technical issues including human rights, debt relief, poverty reduction strategies, security reform, the rule of law and good governance. This engagement is supported in some instances by the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support to Government of Sudan and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) officials.
DFID's support to non-governmental organisations since the beginning of April 2004 is listed as follows.
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Assistance provided by DFID to non-governmental organisations in Sudan since 1 April 2004 NGO Project £ Action centre la Faim(ACF) Food security and surveillance programme in Bentiu, Rob Kona and Unity state to detect and treat malnourished among the vulnerable and war displaced 316,426 ACF To provide emergency treatment for severe malnutrition in the Red Sea 202,593 ACF Emergency Nutrition Programme in North Darfur 250,000 CARE NG0 initiative to strengthen, coordinate and facilitate local and international' NGOs efforts to influence and support the establishment and consolidation of a just and lasting peace 374,544 Concern Supplementary and Community Therapeutic Care Emergency Nutrition to reduce the high malnutrition rates through targeted feeding for children under the age of five and pregnant and lactating mothers 300,000 Debt Relief International To increase the knowledge of the Sudanese parties particularly the SPLM on debt issues and the HIPC process 150,000 Foundation Hirondelle Assessment mission on the development of a project to establish a radio network as part of the peace process 21,413 GOAL To assist in disease prevention, Primary health care and flood relief in Kassala 96,000 GOAL Emergency Assistance to Population in Kutum Province, North Darfur—through a combined Health, Nutrition and Shelter Intervention 575,963 International Rescue Committee Support towards increasing the ability of Sudanese communities and civil societies to be powerful actors in peace building, reconstruction and development 750,000 Medair Emergency Nutrition project to target 20,000 Murle people and 900 internal displaced people 114,500 Médecins Sans Frontiéres(MSF) Health care Services in Jonglei to control main morbidity and mortality in the target areas 1,200,000 MSF Health intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality from the main diseases amongst the displaced and conflict-affected population of the Wadi Sali, Mukjar, Mahalias, South Dar fur State, Nyala and Mahalia areas 1,342,552 MSF To control main morbidity and limit mortality in the target population through the provision of health care services 480,000 MSF Health assistance for the residents and displaced populations in Jonglei and Upper Nile 424,000 MSF Support to human trypanosomiasis to provide quality treatment for affected patients from Mundri counties 250,000 MSF Three health interventions to reduce mortality and morbidity in Gederaf, Malkal and Wau states 350,000 MSF Primary Health Programme to improve the overall health status of the population of Akop. Ananatak and Luacjang Payams in Tonj County Support to Primary Health Care in Tonj 265,439 MSF Emergency Assistance to IDPs in Darfur—through increasing access to health care in conflict areas 491,369 MSF Dar fur Components of Emergency Health Interventions in Northern Sudan Project 650,000 Oxfam Emergency Food and Nutrition intervention in Red Sea State to provide treatment for severe malnutrition 637,220 Oxfam Public Health Humanitarian Response Darfur (Water/Sanitation Programme) 2,193,161 Rift Valley Institue Training course to increase participants effectiveness and to deepen understanding of the operating environment in Sudan 38,110 RVI A survey to identify and mobilise the skills that exist in South Sudan and identify how they can be harnessed to perform key functions in the public sector in the transition to peace 198,220 RVI A baseiline study to provide a baseline record and a preliminary contextual analysis of the peace process in Sudan 58,096 Save the Children Case resolution of and the eradication abduction of women and children in Sudan 500,000 Save the Children Emergency Response to Conflict Related Internal Displacement in North Darfur 500,000 Skills for Sudan Good Governance and policy issues workshop to assist the SPLM prepare good policies for Southern Sudan following the implementation of the peace process 74,490 Skills for Sudan A survey to identify and mobilise the skills that exist in South Sudan and identify how they can be harnessed to perform key functions in the public sector in the transition to peace 198,220 Tear Fund Nutrition and capacity building programme to improve health status 149,686 Tear Fund To reduce high malnutrition rates in Aweil West through targeted feeding 618,584 Tear Fund Emergency Nutrition, Health and Food Security: to continue to provide health care and to reduce, malnutrition 586,531 Tear Fund To improve health status as indicated by lower morbidity and mortality rates related to nutrition maternal and childhood diseases among the risk populations of IDP camps in Khartoum State 122,046 World Vision Emergency Nutrition in Tonj County to set up 10 supplementary dry distribution centres and two therapeutic feeding centres 513,706
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions have taken place between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of Sudan regarding reports of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [176607]
§ Hilary BennThe report of the Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights identifies disturbing patterns of massive human rights violations in Darfur perpetrated by the Government of Sudan and the672W Janjaweed militia, many of which may constitute war crimes and/or crimes against humanity. The report makes no conclusion as to ethnic cleansing, though it notes that repeated attacks on civilians by Government of Sudan military and its proxy militia forces appear to have been largely ethnically based.
DFID is in very close contact with the Government of Sudan about Darfur. My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Africa, and I made very strong representations to the Sudanese Foreign Minister 673W when he visited London on 11 May. Since then I have had detailed discussions with the several Sudanese Government Ministers, including during my visit to Sudan on 6 to 8 June. The Sudanese Government can be in no doubt about the seriousness with which we view the situation.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any of the money the UK is spending on the Darfur region of Sudan is being paid directly to(a) the UN co-ordination effort and (b) via any part of the Sudanese Government; and if he will make a statement. [177715]
§ Hilary BennThe information requested is as follows.
a (a) The UK has contributed £12.6 million to UN agencies engaged in Darfur since September 2003 (see
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Date Agency Description Total cost Agreed commitment to UN agencies October to December 2003
UNHCR Supplementary Appeal for Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refugees in Eastern Chad—2003 1,000,000 March 2004 to January 2005 UNHCR Emergency Assistance to Sudanese Refuges in Eastern Chad 1,000,000 November 2003 to March 2004 WFP Additional Contribution to 2003 UN Appeal, due to Crisis in Darfur, to Provide Emergency Food Assistance to Sudanese Populations Affected by War and Natural Disasters 2,000,000 March to December 2004 WFP Emergency Distribution of Food Aid Commodities to Sudanese Refugees in North East Chad 1,000,000 May to December 2004 WFP Emergency purchase and distribution of Food Aid for internally displaced Sudanese in Darfur. 2,000,000 February to December 2004 UNICEF Emergency Assistance to Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur for Health; Water Supply; Water and Environmental Sanitation; Relief and Shelter Items; and the Protection of Children 1,000,000 May to December 2004 UNICEF Additional support to humanitarian assistance for crisis in Darfur; emergency nutrition; emergency health care and the protection of children 1,500,000 May to November 2004 WHO Emergency primary health care and response to communicable diseases in Darfur; support to measles vaccination programme 1,500,000 May to July 2004 UN Joint Logistics Centre Support to enable UNJLC to co-ordinate the logistics of an effective humanitarian response in Sudan 250,000 Support to the ICRC November to December 2003 ICRC Contribution to the ICRC 2003 Emergency Appeal for Sudan 1,000,000 June to December 2004 ICRC Contribution to the ICRC 2003 Emergency Appeal for Sudan 2,000,000 Agreed Commitment to NGOS October 2003 to September 2004 SC-UK Emergency Response to Conflict Related Internal Displacement in North Darfur 500,000 January to April 2004 MSF-F Emergency Assistance to IDPs in Darfur--through increasing access to health care in conflict areas, disease prevention, halting nutritional deterioration and treating malnourished children 491,369 June to December 2004 MSF-F Emergency Assistance to IDPs in Darfur- -through increasing access to health care in conflict areas, disease prevention, halting nutritional deterioration and treating malnourished children 1,006,860 January to December 2004 MSF-H Darfur Components of Emergency Health Interventions in Northern Sudan Project 650,000 February to November 2004 GOAL Emergency Assistance to Population in Kutum Province, North Darfur—through a combined Health, Nutrition and Shelter Intervention 575,963 March to December 2004 ACF Emergency Nutrition Programme in North Darfur 250,000 March to November 2004 ACF Emergency Nutrition Programme in North Darfur 623,326 April to December 2004 OXFAM Public Health Humanitarian Response Darfur (Water/Sanitation Programme) 2,193,161 May to October 2004 MSF-Belgium Emergency Health Care for IDPs in North Darfur 671,300 May to October 2004 CARE Logistics operation to improve access to shelter and non-food items for IDPs in Greater Darfur 603,195 June 2004 to March 2005 International Provision of Environmental Health, Primary Health and Child Rescue Protection Services for War Affected Communities in North Darfur Committee 728,849 Secondments March to June 2004 OCHA Secondments of four staff (one Khartoum, three in Darfur) 218,759 May to July 2004 UNJLC Secondment of three staff to UNJLC 125,000 Non-food Items May to June 2004 WFP Provision of 264,800m of rope, 31,500 tarpaulins and 86,000 blankets 1,008,000 Total Humanitarian Assistance (DFID) Committed to Darfur since September 2003 23,895,782 following table). This includes direct support to the UN Co-ordination effort of:
four secondees to OCHA to assist in UN oversight of the response—250,000 and three secondees to the UN Joint Logistics Centre, to improve their co-ordination of the humanitarian response We are also considering further support to the UN Coordination through contributions of personnel, equipment and logistics to OCHA and WFP.(b) None of the UK contribution to the humanitarian responses in Darfur is paid via any part of the Sudanese Government. A detailed breakdown of our agreed funding commitments is shown as follows.
I refer the hon. Member for Cambridge to the Statement I made to the House on my return from Sudan on 9 June 2004, Official Report, column 275.
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Date Agency Description Total cost(£) Africa Conflict Prevention Pool May 2004 AU Monitoring Mission Support for swift deployment of AU monitors (from Africa Conflict Prevention Pool) 2,000,000 Total UK Response to Darfur to date 25,895,782
§ Mr. Drew:To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions he had during his recent visit to Sudan on (a) ethnic cleansing in Darfur and (b) breaches in the ceasefire; and what access he had to internally displaced persons; [178008]
(2) whether he met Mr. Jan Egeland, the UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator in Darfur during his recent visit; and what assessment he has made of Mr. Egeland's recent statements on the possibility of hundreds of thousands of people dying as a result of the situation in Sudan; [178009]
(3) what assessment he has made of the health of people in Darfur, Sudan, following his recent visit. [178010]
§ Hilary Benn:I discussed the security situation in Darfur with the Sudanese Government including the First Vice President, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Minister of Finance. I stressed to them the importance of respecting the terms of the 8 April ceasefire and the need to rein in the Janjaweed and stop attacks on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and civilians. In my statements I also called on rebel groups to respect the ceasefire. The recent UN report on human rights in Sudan, while identifying disturbing patterns of human rights violations, stopped short of calling the conflict ethnic cleansing.
I met with the first African Union (AU) monitors in El Fasher, North Darfur. The All Js preparing to deploy 120 monitors across Darfur to support the terms of the 8 April ceasefire and the UK has contributed £2 million to the mission. We expect the deployment of ceasefire monitors to have a positive effect on the security situation.
Mr. Egeland was not in Sudan during my visit. I met with Kevin Kennedy, Acting UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Sudan and Tom Vraalsen, UN Secretary General's Envoy on Humanitarian Affairs.
The security situation remains a real concern with attacks on civilians continuing. The scale of need is enormous and there are significant gaps in the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The onset of rains will hinder delivery and increase the vulnerability of the internally displaced persons. The re is no doubt that urgent action is required by all parties. I echo Mr. Egeland's statements about the need for more donor assistance to Darfur. During my visit I announced a further allocation of £15 million for Darfur, taking the total UK allocation for humanitarian response to £34.5 million. DFID is also urging other donors to give more.
During my visit to Sudan I saw first hand the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Darfur. This is the most serious humanitarian emergency in the world 676W today and many lives are at risk. The UN estimates that over one million people have had to flee their homes and that a further 130,000 refugees have crossed into Eastern Chad. During my time in Darfur, I visited three camps for internally displaced people. I visited a Medecins Sans Frontiéres feeding centre for young children at Kalma camp, near Nyala in South Darfur, which has approximately 20,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). At El Meshtel, near El Fasher in Northern Darfur, I visited a temporary camp where many people have no shelter and are waiting for transfer to Abu Shouk. I then visited Abu Shouk, which has 30,000 IDPs already there.
I also spoke with representatives of UK funded NGOs and UN agencies engaged in provision of health care, including Medecins Sans Frontiéres the World Health Organisation and UNICEF. My visit and these discussions confirmed to me the gravity of the situation in Darfur, including that of the health of IDPs. There are high levels of malnutrition, and the lack of sanitation and adequate shelter is contributing to high child mortality rates. With the onset of rains, the risk from communicable diseases from poor sanitation will become more acute.