Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the contributions of the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee, 27 January 2016, Question 28, and on 3 February 2016, Official Report, column 908, what the evidential basis is for the statements that export of arms by the UK to Saudi Arabia is not undermining her Department's humanitarian work in Yemen.
Answered by Justine Greening
The UK is the fourth largest donor to the crisis in Yemen, committing £85million this year. Funding those agencies and NGOs who have the best access and ability to deliver humanitarian assistance in Yemen means we have been able to provide support to over 1.3m Yemenis. In recent weeks, UK food aid has also been delivered to some of the hardest to reach areas of Taiz.
Nevertheless, the conflict in Yemen does make it difficult for agencies to operate and deliver humanitarian aid to all those who need it. That is why a lasting ceasefire is so important. We are doing all we can to support the UN to convene a further round of peace talks over the coming weeks and to renew the ceasefire.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations her Department has (a) made to and (b) received from Saferworld, Unicef, Save the Children and Oxfam on UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia in the last 12 months.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID Yemen has longstanding and close working relationships with each of these four organisations, all of whom receive UK funding. Our dialogue covers all areas of relevant DFID policy, in particular our four priorities: supporting UN efforts to start political talks and return to an inclusive political process; increasing commercial imports of food, fuel and medical supplies; improving humanitarian access into and within Yemen; and strengthening the international community’s response to the crisis.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department has had with (a) other government departments and (b) external organisations on the effects of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia on the delivery of development aid.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID plays a key role in the UK government’s wider efforts to promote a more stable Yemen that is more able to address its humanitarian needs, working closely with other government departments to ensure that our combined diplomatic, humanitarian and military efforts make the maximum contribution to improving the situation in Yemen.
As part of this, we discuss all issues of relevance to the humanitarian response. We also meet regularly with external organisations to discuss the humanitarian situation and delivery of aid in Yemen.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing for (a) Syrian refugees and (b) Syrian refugee children in Europe; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID is providing nearly £46 million to support refugees in Europe. Part of this funding will provide shelter, warm clothes, food, and medical supplies, including for 27,000 children and babies, many of whom have fled fighting in Syria.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the high incidence of mental health disorders in countries (a) with poor mental health support services and (b) that are experiencing conflict or have recently emerged from conflict; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID is funding work on mental health in several of our focus countries. For example in Malawi, under the Health Partnership Scheme DFID is helping to establish a community-based programme to improve care of people with common and severe mental health illnesses.
The UK is also providing mental health services through the provision of mobile clinics, healthcare and emergency surgery for Syrian refugees caught up in the ongoing crisis
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she plans to take to support the provision of real and sustainable employment to young refugees in states with high youth unemployment.
Answered by Justine Greening
Over the next five years, DFID will build on its economic development work to ensure productive employment opportunities for young people are increased, including those in situations of protracted displacement.
Significant commitments to support Syrian refugees gain employment were made at the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference in London on 4 February, which was co-hosted by the UK alongside Norway, Germany, Kuwait and the UN.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to assist people in poverty in southern Africa to mitigate the effects of the severe drought in that region.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID is providing additional support to help mitigate the impact of El Niño-related drought in southern Africa. We are delivering humanitarian assistance to drought-affected communities, boosting disaster preparedness activities and improving the resilience of households to future climate shocks. Building resilience against climate shocks is a key component of all our climate-related work across Africa.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the destruction by lethal yellowing of coconut palms in Antigua.
Answered by Justine Greening
The identification and control of significant plant and animal diseases is an important part of DFID’s research programmes, delivered through co-funded projects with the UK research councils, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and through the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information her Department holds on the potential effect on tribal communities of planned sugar cane plantations in South Omo, Ethiopia; and whether her Department plans to take steps to help communities whose lands may be lost to such plantations.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID Ethiopia’s programmes predominantly support provision of basic and other services across the whole country. This includes programmes focussing on health, climate investment, primary education and many other areas of development.
DFID holds necessary information to run effective programmes in Ethiopia.
Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information her Department holds on steps that the Ethiopian government has taken to prevent potential widespread starvation in South Omo.
Answered by Justine Greening
The Government of Ethiopia is assisting people in South Omo through food or cash via the Government’s Productive Safety Net Programme to help them through the leanest months of the year. Additionally, the local government is working with the World Food Programme to meet humanitarian needs, allocating over 4,000 MT of food for distribution in South Omo over the coming six months.