Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Williams of Crosby (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 24 January 2007.

---

Iraq: Refugees

Question

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. However, I am sure that, like other noble Lords, she will be aware that one of our closest and most loyal allies, Jordan, is being absolutely swamped by refugees from Iraq, rising towards between 700,000 and 1 million people. One in eight people in Iraq have left their homes as refugees or been displaced. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that the existing position is very bad and deteriorating rapidly, and has asked for $60 million in emergency aid to be paid immediately to help in this desperate situation. Will the Government consider what donation they might make towards that sum? Will they also consider very carefully the likelihood that the so-called surge policy of the United States Administration will yet further increase this pathetic tide of refugees?

Answer

On the UNHCR, my Lords, the Government are at this very moment considering making a contribution. It is not that we do not intend to make a contribution but that, as noble Lords will know, the UN has more than £200 million of unspent resources in its trust fund under the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq. We hope that some of that money can be used for humanitarian relief. If it cannot, we will certainly make a contribution to the fund.

---

Secondary information

Type

Oral question

Reference

688 c1103 

Session

2006-07

Oral question type

1st Supplementary

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber

Subjects

Development aid Humanitarian aid Iraq Refugees UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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