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13 Sept 2004 : Column 1422W—continued
Departmental Contracts
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts were let by his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to Halcrow Group Ltd. for the financial years (a) 2003–04, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2001–02, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 1999–2000; what the value of each contract was; and what the nature of each contract was. [188311]
Hilary Benn: DFID's headquarters has issued the following contracts to the Halcrow Group Ltd. since 1999. A small number of low-value contracts may also have issued from DFID's overseas offices, but information on this is not held centrally, and could be provided only by incurring a disproportionate cost.
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Education (Gender Disparity)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact on girls' school enrolment of increased access to sanitation; and how this is taken into account in the design of the programmes funded by his Department in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goal to eliminate gender disparity in education. [188058]
Hilary Benn: DFID's assessment of this relationship is two-fold. First, access to basic facilities such as school toilets, safe drinking water, clean surroundings and information on hygiene all improve the quality of the school environment and result in better learning outcomes for girls. Provision of basic facilities ensures universal basic education and results in increased enrolment of girls in schools. Basic sanitation for girls in particular, can lead to lower dropout rate for girls, especially at puberty. For example, in Bangladesh, a school sanitation and hygiene education programme reported to increase girls' attendance rates by 11 per cent.
Second, parents are more likely to send girls to school when they have ready access to safe, drinking water and girls are no longer required to collect water from distant water pumps.
An example of how this assessment has been used in DFID's work is in Sudan. As part of its support for the peace process in Sudan, DFID has provided approximately £2 million to assist the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) education programmes in the conflict affected areas of the country, providing books and materials to over 2,000 primary schools and supporting the construction of water and sanitation facilities.
Gaza Strip
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the town of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip. [187517]
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Hilary Benn: The Israeli operation "Forward Shield" in Beit Hanoun has led to extensive damage and destruction to property, including agricultural land and infrastructure, in one of Gaza's most important agricultural regions. The levelling of a further 17 per cent. of total arable land in the last two months adds to the debilitating impact on the livelihoods and food security of Palestinians in the area. Over 50 per cent. of total agricultural land in the area has now been up-rooted since September 2000. As a result of residential buildings being destroyed, 145 people have been made homeless and another 580 people have had their homes damaged. Damage to public property has led to breaks in the water, power, sewerage and road networks. In addition, 17 privately owned water-wells were destroyed with consequences for access to drinking water and agricultural use. DFID funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency provides support for affected people in the area.
Sudan
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent meetings he has had with non-governmental organisations to discuss the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan. [186440]
Hilary Benn: During my visit to Sudan in June, I met with representatives from non-governmental organisations in Khartoum and Darfur. Since my return, I have been in correspondence with several NGOs including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Save the Children UK. Officials from the joint FCO/DFID Sudan Unit hold frequent meetings with NGO representatives in Khartoum and London.
The Foreign Secretary also met with NGO representatives in Khartoum and Darfur during his visit to Sudan in August. He also met with representatives in London prior to his departure and following his return.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received about the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan. [186473]
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Hilary Benn: I am gravely concerned about the situation in Darfur, Sudan and am keeping in close contact with developments. I am in regular dialogue about the humanitarian situation in Darfur with UN agencies, and Development Ministers in other donor Governments. I am also in regular correspondence with the NGO community. I receive numerous letters on Darfur from Members of this House, as well as from members of the public.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in (a) Sudan and (b) the Darfur region. [186478]
Hilary Benn: Sudan is a country in the midst of a chronic complex emergency. UN social indicators continue to be among the lowest in the world. Large areas of the country outside the more affluent area of Khartoum continue to need life-saving and life-sustaining assistance. Continuing conflict in many areas has resulted in persistently high levels of poverty as agricultural production is disrupted and land taken out of cultivation due to instability.
With the expectation of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the coming months, humanitarian needs are likely to increase as the needs of returning internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from the conflict between the north and south of Sudan add to those affected by natural disaster.
In Southern Sudan, 23 years of conflict has created critical food insecurity, an almost total lack of primary health care outside of what is provided by NGOs, and crisis levels of mortality and morbidity across the area. The conflict is estimated to have displaced 4 million people out of a total population of 5 million, some of whom are now refugees and some are IDPs. (A breakdown of this is provided in the table). The critical issue for the humanitarian community in the south is ensuring a stable and sustainable environment to help displaced people to return home. While the Comprehensive Peace Agreement holds out the prospect of peace in Southern Sudan, fighting continues, with an outbreak of militia activity in the Shilluk Kingdom, which has displaced 50,000 people since March 2004.
Other areas of concern in Sudan include the Red Sea State in Northern Sudan, where the population of 700,00 has suffered persistent drought and repeated crop failures since 1988. The rainfall and predicted agricultural production for 2004 is better than the last few years, but due to the prolonged nature of the crisis, a large proportion of the general population is likely to remain short of food and to require food and nutritional assistance for some time to come.
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The humanitarian situation in Darfur remains dire and urgent action is needed on all sides. Over 1.2 million people have been internally displaced in Darfur, and a further 200,000 have fled to Chad. The needs are enormous. Security in the camps has improved, but reports of attacks continue outside the camps, and IDPs, refugees and host communities in Darfur and Eastern Chad remain vulnerable as inter-tribal fighting continues and the levels of banditry and general insecurity remain. IDPs and refugees still lack adequate water and sanitation and many do not have adequate shelter against the rain and extreme conditions. Outbreaks of disease are a serious concern (a hepatitis E outbreak has already been diagnosed in West Darfur). Aid agencies are scaling up delivery of assistance, but capacity constraints remain. The UN estimates that 1,000 international staff are needed to cope with the crisis; 500 are currently working in Darfur. Humanitarian access has however improved and over 45 NGOs are registered, although not all are operational. The rainy season from May to September has also resulted in logistical difficulties, with the World Food Programme (WFP) resorting to airdrops of food in some inaccessible areas. A further constraint is that resources are still limited. The UN has revised its appeal for the crisis in Darfur and now estimates that it needs a total of $530 million for Chad and Darfur, of which $255 million is unmet. The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian response, having allocated £62.5 million since September 2003. DFID is urging other donors to do more.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the United Kingdom Government will take (a) to prevent the forced return or relocation of (i) internally displaced people and (ii) refugees in Sudan and (b) to ensure that local Sudanese security forces and police protect the human rights of those who have suffered. [187821]
Mr. Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
The Government of Sudan on 21 August agreed with the International Organisation for Migration that the latter would determine that returns of Internally Displaced Persons or refugees are voluntary and appropriate. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on 30 August noted that the Government of Sudan was
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abiding by this commitment. We will continue to press the Government of Sudan to fulfil their obligations to provide proper protection to the civilian population, as called for in UNSCR 1556. We are providing support for the African Union Cease-fire Commission observer mission (£2 million in addition to EU funding of €12 million), and have provided £250,000 to fund eight UN human rights monitors in Darfur.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will outline the role the United Kingdom Government intend to play to help peace talks between the warring parties in Darfur to lead to a just and meaningful peace that addresses the root causes of the conflict. [187822]
Mr. Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
Peace talks continue in Abuja, and the parties have drawn up a humanitarian protocol, which will commit them to improved humanitarian access. Discussions are currently focusing on security issues. These talks are key. Only through political negotiation will we be able to find a sustainable solution to the conflict. The UK is offering its full support to the African Union mediators; a UK observer is present in Abuja and we are working with our international partners, including through the UN Security Council, to bring pressure to bear on the parties to the conflict to engage constructively.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the United Kingdom Government will propose to the UN following the passing of the 30 August deadline imposed by the UN on the Sudanese Government; and what the United Kingdom Government's policy towards the Sudanese Government will be. [187823]
Mr. Mullin: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made to the House on 7 September 2004, Official Report, columns 615–18.
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