Written question asked by John Barrett (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 18 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 January 2003. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 January 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make a statement on the food aid requirements of Eritrea. - Inc figures.

Answer: John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the food aid requirements of Eritrea. [88684] Clare Short: The Eritrean Government, the UN and NGOs estimate that the crop figure for 2002 is just over 50,000 MT, which is about 20 per cent. of an average annual crop. The Government's Appeal and the UN Consolidated Appeal, which was released on 19 November 2002, estimates that the drought-affected population is 1.4 million people out of a total population of 3.34 million. An additional 910,000 people are targeted for assistance comprising internally displaced people, returnees, soldiers to be demobilised and vulnerable urban dwellers. The Eritrean Government appealed for 477,000 MT of food aid for 2003, of which 290,000 is for the drought affected population.

Secondary information