Written question asked by David Kidney (Labour) on Wednesday, 12 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 May 2000. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 3 May 2000 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, What famine relief operations are being undertaken by (a) her Department and (b) UK aid agencies in Ethiopia and Eritrea. (Failed OPQ). - Includes figures and ref to Background Briefing in Ethiopia, copy in Library.

Answer: Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what famine relief operations are being undertaken by (a) her Department and (b) UK aid agencies in Ethiopia and Eritrea. [119379] Clare Short: (a) Details of the emergency interventions we have funded in Ethiopia between June 1999 and April 2000 are outlined in the DFID Background Briefing on Ethiopia, April 2000, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. In addition, we are also providing £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to cover food and transport costs and some £1.3 million to Farm Africa for work in Konso. Britain also contributes about 17 per cent. of the cost of EC food aid for Ethiopia; estimated to be some 432,000 metric tonnes this year. In Eritrea this year, we have provided £200,000 to Oxfam for emergency water/sanitation interventions for people displaced by the conflict. In addition, we also provide 17 per cent. of the cost of EC interventions in Eritrea. (b) We do not maintain records of interventions by NGOs and other aid agencies.

Secondary information