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8 Sept 2003 : Column 82W—continued
Ethiopia
John Barrett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the drought in southern Ethiopia. [127937]
Hilary Benn: Inadequate rainfall affected food production in many parts of the country, leading vulnerable communities to experience food shortages and nutrition related illnesses. In response, food aid has
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been distributed, and supplementary and therapeutic feeding programmes have been established to assist those most affected.
This response has helped to reduce levels of malnutrition. However recent reports have indicated high levels of child malnutrition persisting in some parts of southern region. In these districts, government and NGOs are distributing dry ration (cereals), targeted supplementary food and have established additional therapeutic feeding centres.
The situation has now stabilised. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and are prepared to provide additional support as necessary.
John Barrett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the levels of child prostitution in Ethiopia. [127943]
Hilary Benn : In May this year the Ethiopian Government ratified the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (182) which commits it to take immediate and effective measures to secure prohibition and elimination of extreme forms of child labour including the use, procuring or offering of children for prostitution or pornography. We do not currently have access to published statistics specifying the extent of the problem in Ethiopia.
DFID has funded an Information Communications Technologies project (ICT) in partnership with civil society organisations and the private sector, which seeks to provide street children with skills to enable them to gain beneficial employment. Specific project outputs include: ICT-based support to a girls club for the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation of children, and ICT delivery of health related and life skills established through a drop-in centre for the prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
John Barrett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what work his Department is undertaking with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure that all Ethiopians suffering from the HIV and aids virus have access to anti-retroviral drugs; and if he will make a statement. [127944]
Hilary Benn: An estimated 2.1 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, from a population of 67 million.
The Government of Ethiopia are continuing to work on necessary health regulatory systems such as anti-retroviral guidelines on formulation and dosage, and on the procurement, distribution and use of anti-retroviral drugs in Ethiopia. In July 2003, anti-retroviral drugs (generic and brand names) were legally introduced in Ethiopia for paying patients. However, due to scarcity of resources, the Government of Ethiopia are unable to provide free anti-retroviral drugs to all.
DFID is funding Medecins Sans Frontiers to undertake a pilot HIV/AIDS project in Humera in West Tigray to distribute anti-retroviral drugs for treating HIV/AIDS patients. This is being done in close collaboration with the Regional Health Bureau and National HIV/AIDS Council and will serve as a pilot for larger scale schemes.
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Internet
John Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment he has made of the use of the internet for communities in the developing world as a tool for self-reliance. [128141]
Hilary Benn: DFID promotes the internet's use by communities in the developing world as a tool for self-reliance in several of its programmes in the field of Information communication technologies for development. For each of these programmes careful and thorough consideration has been given to ensure their effectiveness and extent to which they could be used as a tool for self-reliance. We also provide support for research into wider potential impact of the internet in local communities in developing countries.
John Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what action the Department is taking to expand the use of (a) internet access and (b) electronic information to communities in developing countries. [128143]
Hilary Benn: (a) DFID is carrying out a number of initiatives designed to expand internet access in developing countries. These include:
- Catalysing Access to Information Communications Technologies in Africa (CATIA) 2003–06 which promotes reform and affordable access to new and traditional Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) across Africa and forms part of our response to the G8 Africa Action Plan.
Building Digital Opportunities consists of a package of cross-sectoral initiatives that address some of the key barriers and opportunities for ICTs in achieving development targets.
Liberia
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what discussions the Department has had with non-governmental organisations on efforts to prevent cholera, gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea and dehydration in the refugee camps in and around Monrovia, Liberia. [128221]
Hilary Benn: DFID has had a humanitarian assessment mission in Liberia since 15 August 2003, which has conducted assessments into the needs of the displaced populations in and around Monrovia. With overcrowding in the centres of displacement, and inadequate water and sanitation facilities, diarrhoeal diseases are reported to have increased, and cholera has been recorded (1,203 new cases were registered between 11 and 17 August in Monrovia, up from 727 cases in the previous week). We have had detailed discussions with the NGOs that are working in the health sector. Epidemic prevention measures are under way, and adequate quantities of supplies have been flown in and pre-positioned. An inter-NGO task force is monitoring the situation and coordinating prevention efforts. To date, we have committed £2.9 million in 2003 to the NGOs and international agencies providing health care
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in and around Monrovia. We have committed a further £4.7 million for additional humanitarian support. We are currently reviewing proposals submitted to us.
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what discussions the Department has had with non-governmental organisations on the level of relief supplies in refugee camps in and around Monrovia, Liberia. [128222]
Hilary Benn: DFID has had a humanitarian assessment mission in Liberia since 15 August 2003 which has had extensive discussions with NGOs and conducted extensive assessments into the needs of the refugees camps in and around Monrovia. These have drawn attention to critical shortfalls in refugees' access to clean water, health services, food, sanitation facilities, and nutritional care. To help address these needs, we have committed £4.7 million to support the humanitarian work of the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs. This is in addition to the £2.9 million we have provided to international agencies and NGOs in Liberia so far this year.
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assistance the Department is giving to displaced persons in Liberia. [128223]
Hilary Benn: DFID has had a humanitarian assessment team in the region since 1 August 2003, and on the ground in Liberia since 15 August 2003. They have been assessing all aspects of the humanitarian crisis, including the needs of the displaced populations in and around Monrovia. The assessment has drawn attention to critical shortfalls in the displaced and host-population's access to clean water, health services, food, sanitation facilities and nutritional care. To address these needs, we have committed £4.7 million to support the humanitarian work of the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs. This is in addition to the £2.9 million we have provided to international agencies and NGOs in Liberia so far this year.
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the level of clean water, medical supplies and other essential provisions in refugee camps in and around Monrovia, Liberia. [128224]
Hilary Benn: DFID has had a humanitarian assessment mission in Liberia since 15 August 2003, which has conducted extensive assessments into the needs of the displaced populations in and around Monrovia. The assessment has drawn attention to critical shortfalls in the displaced and host-population's access to clean water, health services, food, sanitation facilities, and nutrition. To address these needs, DFID has approved £4.7 million to support the humanitarian work of the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs. This is in addition to the £2.9 million we have provided to international agencies and NGOs in Liberia so far this year.
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Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Liberia. [128227]
Hilary Benn: DFID has had a humanitarian assessment team in the region since 1 August 2003, and on the ground in Liberia since 15 August 2003. They have been assessing all aspects of the on-going humanitarian crisis, including the food, health, nutrition, water and sanitation sectors, and have been liaising with all humanitarian partners from the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the NGO community. Based on the team's assessment, we have finalised a humanitarian response strategy to which we have committed £4.7 million. This will bring the UK's total humanitarian assistance to Liberia to £7.6 million for 2003. We will continue to keep the situation under close review and focus funding on those agencies that have the best access to those most in need.
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