Written question asked by Parmjit Dhanda (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 June 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 June 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what support his Department is giving to displaced persons in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo. - Including figures.

Answer: Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what support his Department is giving to displaced persons in Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo. [119555] Hilary Benn: A DFID humanitarian adviser visited Ituri in early June 2003 to have detailed discussions with humanitarian agencies about their support needs. As a result, we have allocated up to £5 million to finance proposals we expect to receive shortly from UNICEF, Save the Children and other agencies working in the area. We have already agreed a grant of £450,000 to Merlin for emergency health care in Ituri. In addition, DFID recently provided £1 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) for its Emergency Humanitarian Initiative in Ituri and other emergency situations in the DRC. The UK is also contributing to the Interim Emergency Multinational Force for the stabilisation of Bunia, and is committed to helping the parties to the wider conflict in DRC to reach a lasting and peaceful solution through the early establishment of the proposed Transitional National Government. Only by achieving this can displaced people return home confident of their security and prospects for the future.

Secondary information