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Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Crawley (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 June 2008.

Internally Displaced People

Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:What efforts are being made to help internally displaced people to find permanent dwellings in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq, (c) Uganda, and (d) the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what measures they, the European Union and the Commonwealth are taking on this.
Answer

The Department for International Development (DfID) supports humanitarian agencies and Governments to find durable solutions, be they voluntary return, relocation or local integration, to the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs), on the premise that any type of durable solution must be voluntary and safe. In Afghanistan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is working with the Government to assist IDPs who wish to return to their place of origin. Those who are unable or unwilling to return are being integrated into local communities where they are assisted in finding permanent dwellings. DfID has contributed £4 million to the International Committee for the Red Cross for IDPs and vulnerable groups. In Iraq, the security situation does not yet allow for IDPs to return to their places of origin. In the mean time, humanitarian assistance is provided to IDPs in temporary dwellings. DfID has committed £9 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme to assist IDPs and other vulnerable groups. In Uganda, DfID and other donors are in discussion with the Government on how best to support their peace, recovery and development plan for Northern Uganda, which includes assisting IDPs to return to their original communities or to relocate elsewhere. In 2007-08 DfID released £16.9 million to help IDPs meet basic needs and begin the process of return. The European Commission is providing £2 million this year to shelter projects in Northern Uganda. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Enlarged Returns Assistance Programme (ERAP), managed by UNICEF, is helping IDPs who wish to return to their places of origin with packages of assistance. DfID supports the ERAP through its contribution to the Common Humanitarian Fund for the DRC (£30 million in 2008). The EU humanitarian assistance to the DRC, worth €30 million in 2008, also funds the ERAP.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
3429; 702 c39-40WA
Session
2007-08
Subjects
Development aid International assistance Iraq Afghanistan Uganda Internally displaced people EU aid Democratic Republic of the Congo
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk