Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 23 June 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 June 2008. It was answered by Shahid Malik (Labour) on Wednesday, 2 July 2008 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Iraq: Christianity

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid has been provided by his Department for members of Iraq's Christian minority who have fled the conflict in Iraq in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to improving the humanitarian situation both of internally displaced people in Iraq and of Iraqi refugees in the region. We have provided over £149 million in humanitarian assistance to international agencies working in Iraq and the region since 2003—including £17 million this year. This funding has helped to provide immediate assistance such as food, shelter and medical supplies to the most vulnerable people in Iraq.We are aware of the fact that some groups may be particularly vulnerable due to ethnic or religious affiliation, such as the Christian minority. However, it is not the UK's policy to provide direct assistance to any particular religious group in Iraq. Rather, we channel our assistance through established international organisations, notably the United Nations, with a mandate to provide protection to all refugees—regardless of ethnicity or religion—and to distribute aid to those who need it most.

Secondary information