Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have provided, as part of their International Aid programme, to alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in (1) Bangladesh, (2) Sri Lanka, and (3) Liberia.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is at the forefront of the global response to COVID-19, through our diplomatic efforts and the provision of £744 million of UK aid to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic impacts.
UK aid is supporting Bangladesh’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 across the country. The UK has allocated around £21 million so far to support the priorities set out in the Government of Bangladesh's National Preparedness and Response plan. This includes more than £7 million to support the national health systems and £3 million to the UN Development Programme to reach at least 2.16 million of the poorest inhabitants. More than £10 million has been allocated to existing UN and NGO partners to prepare for COVID-19 and maintain critical humanitarian services in the Rohingya refugee camps. Furthermore, DFID and Unilever are collaborating on a mass global handwashing campaign, which will run across TV, radio and print, social and digital media to help change people’s behaviour in countries across Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh. Messages will be tailored to communities in these countries to ensure they are effective.
The UK does not have a bilateral aid programme in Sri Lanka but through our support to the UN and other international bodies, UK aid will indirectly support Sri Lanka in tackling COVID-19. The UK has also adapted our Conflict, Security and Stability Fund work in Sri Lanka to respond to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable and conflict affected communities.
The UK is a significant contributor to the IMF Catastrophe Fund which Liberia has accessed for debt relief. DFID is aware of the existing levels of poverty and fragile economy in Liberia and is therefore working to address the impacts that COVID-19 will have. In order to do this, we are prioritising our health response as well as the provision of social protection.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide support and assistance to women and girls in refugee camps, following reports that humanitarian organisations are recalling their staff to return home due to COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Refugees are amongst the most vulnerable to the COVID 19 pandemic, with women and girls disproportionately affected. That is why the UK is pushing for greater support to women and girls across the international response.
To date, the UK has committed £744 million in the international fight against COVID-19. That includes significant support to the United Nations Population Fund to address the needs of women and girls, with regards to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The UK is also supporting the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide essential services for refugees including tackling GBV and child protection, as well as emergency cash assistance to survivors and women-at-risk. Displaced women are actively involved in delivery of assistance, informing their communities about the risks of violence and providing information on prevention and protective health measures.
Whilst the current crisis inevitably has had an impact on access and movement, aid workers remain very much engaged in refugee camps around the world. We are pushing to ensure humanitarian access is maintained and assistance is targeted to those most in need. Humanitarian organisations are also working through local partners on the frontlines of the response including women-led and women’s rights organisations.
Asked by: Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to Rohingya women survivors of violence, rape and torture now living in Bangladesh, given reports of an increase in violence against women and girls there.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK’s support to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar since 2017 has helped more than 12,000 individuals receive GBV case management support. In the current situation, while camp operations have been limited to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure to refugees, protection services are still being provided. Child Protection Focal Points, GBV case workers, and the Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Network (led by the Inter-Sectoral Coordination Group) continue to play a critical role and ensure continuity despite reduced humanitarian staff presence in the camps. This includes monitoring, coordination, referral and immediate support for survivors. Anti-trafficking awareness raising is also ongoing. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the heightened risks as a result of the current restrictions and – through our partners – will monitor this closely and respond as best as possible within the constraints faced.