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South-east Europe: UN Meeting
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will be represented at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe meeting
- in Geneva; what are the main points for discussion regarding south-east Europe; and whether these include the re-opening of the Danube to navigation at Novi Sad.[HL2287]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Her Majesty's Government were represented at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Spring Seminar and Annual Session in Geneva, 3-5 May 2000 by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the United Kingdom Mission to the Office of the United Nations at Geneva.
The main points of the debate on south-east Europe were the regeneration of the economies of south-east Europe, international financial and technical assistance, regional co-operation and the political context of strategies for economic policy and regional co-operation.
There was no substantive debate on the re-opening of the Danube to navigation at Novi Sad, although the issue was raised briefly in the discussion.
Ethiopia
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 2 March (WA 86-87), what is their latest estimate of emergency food requirements in Ethiopia; what numbers are affected in the various provinces; what is the interval between pledges of emergency food aid to Ethiopia and their delivery (a) to ports and (b) to the areas affected; and which United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisations are active in the areas of food shortage; and of these which have been, or will become, channels of emergency aid during the present crisis.[HL2097]
Baroness Amos: The estimate in the Government of Ethiopia's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
Committee's (DPPC) 2000 Annual Appeal in January 2000 was for approximately 900,000 metric tonnes of food aid this year. The UN is planning to launch a regional Greater Horn of Africa Appeal later this month, following the United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy's visit to the region between 11 and 19 April.The estimated number of beneficiaries expected in 2000 are as follows:
| Region | 2000 Population Estimate | Estimate of 2000 Beneficiaries- drought affected | Total Displaced Beneficiaries | Total |
| Tigray | 3,744,867 | 1,047,400 | 315,936 | 1,363,336 |
| Afar Region | 1,236,016 | 272,704 | 33,901 | 306,605 |
| Amhara | 16,518,874 | 2,534,915 | - | 2,534,915 |
| Orimiya | 22,165,467 | 1,598,246 | - | 1,598,246 |
| Somali Region | 3,758,828 | 1,321,000 | - | 1,321,000 |
| Beneshangul | 549,812 | 4,201 | - | 4,201 |
| SNNPR | 12,383,746 | 852,740 | - | 852,740 |
| Gambela | 175,077 | 46,600 | - | 46,600 |
| Harari | 156,587 | 7,070 | - | 7,070 |
| Diwe Dawa | 300,739 | 47,459 | - | 47,459 |
| Addis Ababa | 2,522,718 | - | - | - |
| Country Total | 63,512,731 | 7,732,335 | 349,837 | 8,082,172 |
Source:
DPPC Annual Appeal, 21 January 2000
Britain's food aid is provided through non-governmental organisations (international NGOs) and the WFP. The length of time between purchase and delivery of food aid depends considerably on where the food is sourced (much is purchased locally and some comes from the in-country food security reserve) and the accessibility of those in need.
We do not maintain records of all the UK-based NGOs active in Ethiopia. Details of the emergency interventions we have funded in Ethiopia between June 1999 and April 2000 are outlined in the DFID background briefing on Ethiopia, April 2000, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. In addition, we are also providing £1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross to cover food and transport costs and some £1.3 million to Farm Africa for work in Konso.