Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 December 2002. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 December 2002 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the landmine problems in Angola; and how much money her Department has given to de-mining programmes in Angola. - Includes figures. (Printed on 16.12.2002 in Bound Volume 396 c562-3W)

Answer: Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the landmine problems in Angola; and how much money her Department has given to de-mining programmes in Angola. [87072] Clare Short: My Department's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department (CHAD) carried out an assessment mission to Angola in July to determine the extent of the humanitarian crisis there. They found that according to mine clearance agencies, the number of mines in Angola is now considerably lower than the previously estimated 13 million. Nevertheless, Angola remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Earlier this month, the national coordinator of Angola's Inter-sectoral Commission for De-mining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH) estimated that Angola has about four to five million unexploded landmines. As many as 70,000 Angolans are believed to have lost limbs as a result of landmine explosions. Relief agencies in Angola also state that landmines continue to restrict the delivery of humanitarian assistance. My Department has allocated US$ 459,000 to UNDP for a project aimed at improving the effectiveness of mine action through strengthened coordination and planning at the provincial level in Angola. We will also be contributing 19.7 per cent. of the è6 million which the EC has recently made available for mine action in Angola. This includes è5 million for a variety of mine clearance agencies.

Secondary information