Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Rawlings (Conservative) on Monday, 28 February 2011.

Sudan

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what aid they have made available to the Beja people of north-east Sudan, especially to those displaced and living at Port Sudan and those suffering the effects of drought and locusts.

Answer: British humanitarian support is channelled through the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) which provides aid to reduce dependency, increase self-reliance and build livelihoods. In 2010 the CHF provided $12.8 million to address urgent humanitarian needs in Eastern Sudan, which covers the areas populated by the Beja people and those displaced and living in Port Sudan. North-eastern Sudan experiences drought almost every year in some parts of the region and the droughts are of varying magnitudes. (Desert locust infestations do pose a threat in north-eastern Sudan, but there has been little damage to crops from locusts in the last few years. However, this is something that the CHF monitors and is able to respond to if the need arises). In the eastern states in 2009, the CHF helped improve the provision of health services, including immunization coverage, treatment for tuberculosis and the provision of essential drugs and laboratory services. It also trained 100 health care staff in the management of acute malnutrition and infant and child feeding.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6929; 725 c277WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Development aid Ethnic groups Droughts Sudan Internally displaced people Locusts
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk