Written question asked by Paul Marsden (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 8 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 May 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Thursday, 15 May 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what medical assistance is being given to hospitals in Iraq. - Inc list.

Answer: Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what medical assistance is being given to hospitals in Iraq. [113048] Hilary Benn: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been active in Iraq throughout the conflict supplying hospitals with water, power and medical supplies. ICRC has also been helping-replace missing equipment. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is co-ordinating the sectoral response. Its latest assessment is that there is not an overall shortage of medical supplies in Iraq, though there are shortages of drugs for a few specific conditions. Since the start of the current crisis DFID has supported the following agencies to provide assistance to the Iraqi health sector. International Red Cross/Red Crescent movement: £32 million; UNICEF: £9 million (£2 million for contingency planning and preparedness measures, £7 million as part of the UN flash appeal); WHO: £6 million (£1 million for contingency planning and preparedness measures, £5 million as part of the UN flash appeal); and NGOs including Merlin, International Medical Corps, Save the Children, UK and GOAL.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 113048; 405 c395W;405 c393-4W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Development aid Hospitals Health services International assistance Iraq
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk