Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many non-disclosure agreements her Department has signed with (a) companies and (b) trade associations advising the Government on preparations for contingency planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have any non-disclosure agreements with organisations to provide advice to the Department on preparations for contingency planning for the UK’s exit from the EU without a deal.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department has allocated to educational support for Rohingya refugees in Myanmar and Bangladesh, in each of the last three financial years.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Prior to August 2017, DFID supported Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh through an existing humanitarian preparedness and response programme. This focused on nutrition and support for partner coordination.
After August 2017, the Education Cannot Wait initiative, to which DFID is one of the largest contributors, committed £2.2 million for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in 2017 to help cover emergency learning needs.
DFID has also supported education experts and organisations to work with the Ministries of Education in Bangladesh and Burma to agree a curriculum and certification process for Rohingya children in Cox’s Bazar.
DFID is working with the Government of Bangladesh and partners to plan for longer-term refugee needs, such as education and skills training.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Bangladeshi Government to ensure there are no delays in granting access to international NGOs operating in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of NGO concerns regarding access and ability to deliver in the camps. DFID Bangladesh humanitarian leads are in regular contact with the head of the NGO platform in Cox’s Bazar and directly with our NGO partners. We and other development partners work with UN agencies to raise issues with the Bangladesh government including timely and transparent processing of authorisations.
NGOs have discussed access to radios with the UN Resident Coordinator and Government officials. Currently NGOs can only access radios through UN partners, which creates some restrictions. DFID is aware of these issues, and continues to raise this issue with the UN.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department has allocated to mental health support for Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Up to March 2018, the £59m first tranche of UK funding to the humanitarian crisis included support to ACF and UNICEF to provide emergency psychosocial support to adults and adolescents; play sessions to ease stress and trauma for children under 16 years; and established child friendly spaces for 34,019 children.
In March 2018, a further tranche of £70m was announced and included funding to UNHCR and UNICEF to provide support to adolescents with life-skill based education and safe spaces, and support sexual and gender-based survivors with appropriate assistance.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any of her Department's partners have had their permits to operate within the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar rescinded by the Government of Bangladesh; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of NGO concerns regarding access and ability to deliver in the camps. DFID Bangladesh humanitarian leads are in regular contact with the head of the NGO platform in Cox’s Bazar and directly with our NGO partners. We and other development partners work with UN agencies to raise issues with the Bangladesh government including timely and transparent processing of authorisations.
NGOs have discussed access to radios with the UN Resident Coordinator and Government officials. Currently NGOs can only access radios through UN partners, which creates some restrictions. DFID is aware of these issues, and continues to raise this issue with the UN.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her Bangladeshi counterparts on allowing NGOs to carry radios in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We are aware of NGO concerns regarding access and ability to deliver in the camps. DFID Bangladesh humanitarian leads are in regular contact with the head of the NGO platform in Cox’s Bazar and directly with our NGO partners. We and other development partners work with UN agencies to raise issues with the Bangladesh government including timely and transparent processing of authorisations.
NGOs have discussed access to radios with the UN Resident Coordinator and Government officials. Currently NGOs can only access radios through UN partners, which creates some restrictions. DFID is aware of these issues, and continues to raise this issue with the UN.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the UK's contribution to humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees includes resources to improve lighting in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
UK funding to ICRC has supported: light installation in 53 gender segregated latrines and bathing spaces; 13 newly constructed latrine blocks with solar lighting; 115 street lights; 8,500 solar lamps, with priority to women and girls; and 5,000 solar lanterns for Rohingya, with plans to distribute a further 36,000 solar lanterns this year. Funding to IOM and Christian Aid will support the installation of solar lamps in camps covering almost 10,000 refugees.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of Israeli Government restrictions on the movement of goods into Gaza on UNWRA provided aid and humanitarian resources in each of the last five years.
Answered by Alistair Burt
I remain deeply concerned about restrictions on movement and access in Gaza, and the impact that this is having on the humanitarian situation. We have not made a specific assessment of the effect of these restrictions on UNRWA, which liaises with the Government of Israel directly to coordinate the movement of goods for their operations. Nevertheless, my officials and I regularly raise the need to ease restrictions on Gaza with our counterparts in the Government of Israel.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
If her Department will provide additional funding to Rohingya refugees in preparation for the cyclone season.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK has invested £12.6 million specifically in emergency preparedness before the cyclone season. The Bangladeshi government is experienced in responding to extreme weather events. We are working with the government and other partners to keep emergency preparedness a priority, to enhance coordination and to ensure the overall response builds resilience.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Stepney)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate the Government has made on the number of UK humanitarian agencies seeking access to refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK regularly engages with UK NGOs in Bangladesh. All NGOs seeking to access to refugee camps and provide support in Bangladesh require the government of Bangladesh's permission to do so. The list of those requesting access is held by the government of Bangladesh.