Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
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 the Filipino province of Davao del Norte affected by the recent drought.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
We are aware of the El Nino induced drought affecting some regions of the Philippines. The Department for International Development have also provided funding to the UK Met Office to provide technical assistance to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The Philippines has a well-developed disaster management system that is appropriately resourced; we judge that the impact of El Nino does not exceed the Government of Philippines’s capacity to respond. Should the Philippines require external assistance, Association of Southeast Asian Nations should constitute the first line of international response.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when the UK is joining the EU Consortium to support the construction of small-scale infrastructure in Area C; and whether such construction has received planning permission from the Israeli government.
Answered by Desmond Swayne
The UK is committed to Palestinian development in Area C. We continue to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms for zoning, planning and permitting in Area C for the benefit of the Palestinian population, including by facilitating local Palestinian participation in such processes. The UK has allocated £900,000 for the development of basic social infrastructure in areas which have an outline plan in the approval process, through an EU consortium. The EU consults with the local communities themselves and the Israeli authorities where necessary.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she plans to increase the UK's humanitarian contribution to Iraq.
Answered by Justine Greening
As I announced on Saturday, the UK is providing an initial £3 million of emergency humanitarian assistance to help civilians fleeing the ISIL advance in Northern Iraq. Following an assessment of needs on the ground by DFID humanitarian experts who deployed to Erbil last Thursday, this includes:
(i) – Activation of the UK's Rapid Response Facility (RRF), which provides emergency support via pre-approved organisations in the event of a humanitarian crisis overseas. This initial package of UK support comprises clean water and sanitation, essential medicine, women-friendly hygiene kits and basic household items, which will be provided from £2 million of RRF funding to NGOs in the region.
(ii) - Protection for vulnerable girls and women through the deployment of dedicated UN safety and welfare teams in key internally displaced person and refugee camp sites and areas, secured through £1 million of funding to the UNHCR.
The UK will continue to monitor the situation closely and we are considering urgently what other assistance we could provide.