Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2017 to Question 115311, whether the UK Government has policies and procedures in place to ensure that UK aid is not spent on projects aimed at encouraging refugee returns to Myanmar before conditions for their return are safe; and what assurances he has received from the Bangladeshi Government that they would not seek to return refugees to Myanmar before conditions for their return are safe.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Burmese and Bangladeshi authorities are discussing a refugee return process. During the Secretary of State for International Development’s visit to Bangladesh 25-26 November 2017, she underlined to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that any future returns from Bangladesh must be safe, voluntary, dignified and consistent with international standards. UNHCR has stated that these conditions are not yet being met in northern Rakhine State. We will continue to press the Governments of Bangladesh and Burma to work with the international community to identify acceptable solutions that protect and respect the rights and freedoms of refugees, and that include international monitoring.
Since August 2017, the UK has announced £59 million to support implementation of the international Humanitarian Response Plan to meet the needs of refugees in Bangladesh. The UK has provided £1 million to the Burma Red Cross and £2 million to the World Food Programme to meet humanitarian needs in northern Rakhine State, Burma. No UK funding will be made available to support a returns process that does not meet international standards.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the WHO and (b) NGOs on tackling the spread of waterborne diseases in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID has been delivering improved sanitation, safe water and safer hygiene in homes, schools and clinics in Bangladesh. DFID is providing support in Bangladesh through WaterAid and other UK agencies under the South Asia WASH Results Programme (SAWRP), and through UNICEF. Under both programmes our partners are providing improved sanitation and safe water to communities, sourcing groundwater or suitable surface water alternatives which are free from arsenic contamination. Over the next three years DFID will help 2.3m people get access to improved water and sanitation in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar poses a particular challenge for the spread of waterborne diseases. DFID Bangladesh works closely with partners across sectors of the humanitarian response, including health. WHO and UNICEF are coordinating through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) cluster, and are carrying out regular, random sampling of water points and sources in the settlement areas. One of the largest cholera vaccination campaigns in the world is underway. The UK is the largest funder of the GAVI alliance, which is providing cholera vaccines for the campaign. As part of our help to the Rohingya, we will provide safe drinking water, emergency latrines and hygiene kits for more than 138,000 people,
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from (a) WaterAid and (b) other NGOs on efforts to improve access to clean drinking water in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID has been delivering improved sanitation, safe water and safer hygiene in homes, schools and clinics in Bangladesh. DFID is providing support in Bangladesh through WaterAid and other UK agencies under the South Asia WASH Results Programme (SAWRP), and through UNICEF. Under both programmes our partners are providing improved sanitation and safe water to communities, sourcing groundwater or suitable surface water alternatives which are free from arsenic contamination. Over the next three years DFID will help 2.3m people get access to improved water and sanitation in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar poses a particular challenge for the spread of waterborne diseases. DFID Bangladesh works closely with partners across sectors of the humanitarian response, including health. WHO and UNICEF are coordinating through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) cluster, and are carrying out regular, random sampling of water points and sources in the settlement areas. One of the largest cholera vaccination campaigns in the world is underway. The UK is the largest funder of the GAVI alliance, which is providing cholera vaccines for the campaign. As part of our help to the Rohingya, we will provide safe drinking water, emergency latrines and hygiene kits for more than 138,000 people,
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with representatives from (a) WaterAid and (b) other NGOs on the support required to improve systems of sanitation in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID has been delivering improved sanitation, safe water and safer hygiene in homes, schools and clinics in Bangladesh. DFID is providing support in Bangladesh through WaterAid and other UK agencies under the South Asia WASH Results Programme (SAWRP), and through UNICEF. Under both programmes our partners are providing improved sanitation and safe water to communities, sourcing groundwater or suitable surface water alternatives which are free from arsenic contamination. Over the next three years DFID will help 2.3m people get access to improved water and sanitation in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar poses a particular challenge for the spread of waterborne diseases. DFID Bangladesh works closely with partners across sectors of the humanitarian response, including health. WHO and UNICEF are coordinating through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) cluster, and are carrying out regular, random sampling of water points and sources in the settlement areas. One of the largest cholera vaccination campaigns in the world is underway. The UK is the largest funder of the GAVI alliance, which is providing cholera vaccines for the campaign. As part of our help to the Rohingya, we will provide safe drinking water, emergency latrines and hygiene kits for more than 138,000 people,
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support improvements in (a) sanitation and (b) access to clean drinking water in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID has been delivering improved sanitation, safe water and safer hygiene in homes, schools and clinics in Bangladesh. DFID is providing support in Bangladesh through WaterAid and other UK agencies under the South Asia WASH Results Programme (SAWRP), and through UNICEF. Under both programmes our partners are providing improved sanitation and safe water to communities, sourcing groundwater or suitable surface water alternatives which are free from arsenic contamination. Over the next three years DFID will help 2.3m people get access to improved water and sanitation in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya refugee crisis in Cox’s Bazar poses a particular challenge for the spread of waterborne diseases. DFID Bangladesh works closely with partners across sectors of the humanitarian response, including health. WHO and UNICEF are coordinating through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) cluster, and are carrying out regular, random sampling of water points and sources in the settlement areas. One of the largest cholera vaccination campaigns in the world is underway. The UK is the largest funder of the GAVI alliance, which is providing cholera vaccines for the campaign. As part of our help to the Rohingya, we will provide safe drinking water, emergency latrines and hygiene kits for more than 138,000 people,
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and the Turks Caicos Islands to repair the damage caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK has committed up to £65 million to the regional relief effort following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. To date nearly 180 tonnes of humanitarian aid has been delivered. In addition, 40 UK aid experts, 1900 British military personnel and over 50 police officers have been provided. The UK has also deployed a recovery planning team to support the affected territories in preparing plans for longer term reconstruction.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government's duty to provide assistance to British Overseas Territories is separate to its commitment to meet its UN 0.7 per cent target under the International Development Act 2015.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The countries and territories which are eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) are determined by criteria set by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD, based on GNI per head of population. Some of the Overseas Territories are currently eligible and some are not. Statistics on ODA can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about/statistics
In light of Hurricane Irma, the Secretary of State for International Development has written to the DAC asking them as a matter of urgency to develop options to ensure the aid rules reflect the needs of those impacted by natural disasters.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the Government's policy is on the use of funds intended to meet its UN 0.7 per cent target under the International Development Act 2015 on assistance for British Overseas Territories.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The countries and territories which are eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) are determined by criteria set by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD, based on GNI per head of population. Some of the Overseas Territories are currently eligible and some are not. Statistics on ODA can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about/statistics
In light of Hurricane Irma, the Secretary of State for International Development has written to the DAC asking them as a matter of urgency to develop options to ensure the aid rules reflect the needs of those impacted by natural disasters.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she plans to visit Cyprus during the current parliamentary session.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The Secretary of State has no current plans to visit Cyprus.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Friern Barnet)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the Overseas Territories and other Caribbean states on the humanitarian response to Hurricane Irma.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Government Ministers are in daily contact with the Governors of the Overseas Territories affected by Hurricane Irma as well as with our partners in the region. We are coordinating closely on needs assessments and getting UKaid in affected areas.