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Dept for International Development

Answer

Mr. Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the United Kingdom is taking in partnership with other countries to ensure that the food, shelter, sanitation, healthcare and other basic needs of refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan are being adequately met; and what steps are being taken to assist in providing protection against attacks. [216664] Hilary Benn: The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the Darfur crisis, having committed £62.5 million since September 2003. The UK also contributes around 18 per cent. of the European Commission's è152 million contribution to the crisis. This year the UK will provide £70 million in humanitarian assistance across Sudan. This includes £20 million for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in a wide range of sectors, including food, shelter, sanitation, and healthcare; £5 million for the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) 2005 Sudan Appeal; £5 million for the UN consolidated Appeal for Eastern Chad; and an un-earmarked £40 million contribution for the UN Workplan for Sudan, which will allow the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum to target funding where it is needed most. When making funding allocations, DFID co-ordinates closely with other major donors, particularly the US and EC. The large majority of DFID interventions are jointly funded by other donors. The UK remains gravely concerned about the security situation in Darfur, and we are pressing all sides to stop fighting and adhere to the Abuja protocols on providing unimpeded and unrestricted humanitarian access and refraining from all hostilities and military actions in the region. The UK has provided some £14 million to the Africa Union monitoring mission in Darfur, including the provision of 143 vehicles; 470 more vehicles are on their way. DFID also funds NGOs and international organisations providing protection to the Sudanese population. One such example is, the ICRC 2005 Appeal, to which DFID will contribute £5 million this year, this includes dialogue with all parties, and interventions to minimise violence due to competition for resources between internally displaced peoples (IDPs), nomads and farmers.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c394W;431 c392-3W; 216664

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Development aid Bilateral aid International assistance Humanitarian aid Peacekeeping operations United Nations Sudan Darfur Non-governmental organisations

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk