Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the UK meets its ODA obligations in the event that the UK leave the European Union without a deal.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Department, working with Treasury and other Government departments, is always planning for contingencies to ensure that the UK meets its ODA obligations. The consequences of leaving the European Union without a deal come within this broader contingency planning.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on medical facilities in Yemen of the recent cyclone in that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Two tropical cyclones – Sagar and Mekunu – hit parts of Yemen in the second half of May, with the most severe damage reported on the island of Socotra. A rapid assessment suggests that all the health facilities in Socotra are functioning but with low capacity and in urgent need of essential drugs. The humanitarian community has started to send shelter kits and other non-food items, as well as food and medical supplies to the island. A UN team is working with the local authorities to assess further needs and coordinate response efforts.
Only half of Yemen’s health facilities are fully functional and 16 million Yemenis require support to obtain healthcare. Our support of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) includes support for improving the quality and availability of healthcare and medical supplies in Yemen.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on access to clean drinking water in Yemen of the recent cyclone in that country.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Two tropical cyclones – Sagar and Mekunu – hit parts of Yemen in the second half of May. Early reports indicate that the damage was most severe on the island of Socotra, where the water network has been damaged and floods are increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The humanitarian community has started to send emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and chlorine to purify water to Socotra, and a UN team is working with the local authorities to assess further needs and coordinate response efforts.
Some 16 million Yemenis require support to meet their basic water, sanitation and hygiene needs. The UK’s support of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) is helping to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene services to Yemen.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to tackle sexual exploitation and trafficking of Rohingya refugee women and girls.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We recognise that Rohingya women and girls face risks in the camps including domestic violence, sexual harassment, forced labour and sexual exploitation. DFID is helping to provide services including psycho-social counselling, reproductive health services, child-friendly spaces, safe shelters and legal advice in the camps. We are also providing essential help in the camps such as improved lighting and alarms to help keep women and girls safer.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the risk of sexual exploitation of women and girls at refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Answered by Alistair Burt
We recognise that Rohingya women and girls face risks in the camps including domestic violence, sexual harassment, forced labour and sexual exploitation. DFID is helping to provide services including psycho-social counselling, reproductive health services, child-friendly spaces, safe shelters and legal advice in the camps. We are also providing essential help in the camps such as improved lighting and alarms to help keep women and girls safer.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how her Department conducts due diligence assessments and evaluates its partners’ commitment to UK Partnership Principles and to promoting freedom of religion or belief when determining the funding of governments and organisations.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision. DFID contractual and grant arrangements used for organisations other than governments include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics, including religion or belief.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The recent escalation in fighting and restrictions on commercial and humanitarian access threaten to push the country into catastrophic famine. The UN estimates that almost 18 million people in Yemen do not have reliable access to food and over 8 million people face extreme food shortages.
The International Development Secretary visited Djibouti and Saudi Arabia in December, where she announced a further £50 million in life-saving UK aid to provide food and fuel for millions of people. This announcement increased our support to Yemen to £205 million overall for this financial year (2017/18) making us the third-largest humanitarian donor to Yemen overall and the second-largest to the UN Humanitarian Appeal.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
Answered by Alistair Burt
Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The recent escalation in fighting and restrictions on commercial and humanitarian access threaten to push the country into catastrophic famine. The UN estimates that almost 18 million people in Yemen do not have reliable access to food and over 8 million people face extreme food shortages.
The International Development Secretary visited Djibouti and Saudi Arabia in December, where she announced a further £50 million in life-saving UK aid to provide food and fuel for millions of people. This announcement increased our support to Yemen to £205 million overall for this financial year (2017/18) making us the third-largest humanitarian donor to Yemen overall and the second-largest to the UN Humanitarian Appeal.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
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 on the level of provision of medical treatment to Yemeni civilians of the withdrawal of Mèdecins Sans Frontières from Ibb Al-Thawra Hospital in Yemen.
Answered by Rory Stewart
According to their statement of 23 March, Médecins Sans Frontières is planning to withdraw gradually over a period of three months, during which access to healthcare will be maintained. It is unclear what arrangements will be in place to supply aid following their withdrawal. DFID is monitoring the situation closely.
Asked by: Gavin Shuker (Independent - Luton South)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Myanmar government removes remaining aid restrictions and facilities access for humanitarian aid throughout that country.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Humanitarian assistance continues to reach the large majority of those in need in Burma. The government of Burma played a constructive role in providing and facilitating humanitarian assistance to areas affected by flooding in 2015. In conflict areas there remain significant restrictions to humanitarian access, that in some cases limit the quality and reach of humanitarian assistance.
DFID officials, together with other donors and United Nations agencies, have discussed aid policy and coordination with the new government of Burma, including administrative and security regulations that can limit access for assistance, including in Rakhine State in June 2016. DFID officials raise local issues limiting humanitarian access during field visits, including during visits to Kachin State in June 2015 and Rakhine State in May 2016. DFID closely monitors humanitarian access limitations and works together with other donor governments and the United Nations to seek to alleviate these. Through these channels and directly we will be encouraging the new government of Burma to act to address policies and practices that limit humanitarian access.