Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what additional funding she has allocated to the emergency flood response in South Sudan.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. We are deeply concerned at the impact such flooding has on millions of ordinary South Sudanese, exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis. As a leading donor to South Sudan, HMG aims to reach 2 million people with some form of humanitarian assistance this year. Our humanitarian spend of £34.5 million this year includes help to those impacted by flooding. For example HMG contributions to the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the International Federation of Red Cross Disaster Relief Emergency Fund have provided emergency food, shelter, water and sanitation services to those affected.
In addition, we have provided emergency support to those affected by flooding through existing programmes. This includes in Jonglei State where we have supported more than 15,000 displaced people with soap, buckets, water purification supplies and mosquito nets. In Unity State plastic sheeting, blankets and cooking supplies have been provided to more than 9,400 affected by floods. We also continue to press the Government of South Sudan to prioritise providing their own funding for essential services for their citizens.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has received of the level of malnutrition observed in the Bentiu camp for internally displaced people in South Sudan; and what nutritional and primary health assistance she is providing to those affected.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. In Bentiu, climate and conflict have put more people in need of humanitarian support. Flood waters have also made the delivery of aid even more challenging, impacting supply routes including around the Bentiu Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp.
In December £500,000 of HMG humanitarian programme funding was reallocated to provide additional helicopter capacity so that humanitarian organisations could deliver aid to areas severely impacted by flooding, including Bentiu. We have also provided funding to different UN bodies and funds such as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which have allocated resources to Bentiu, and the World Food Programme who aim to support 37,000 people in Bentiu IDP camp. The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund that we contribute to has also recently allocated $2.3 million to support health, water and sanitation services for displaced people in Bentiu IDP camp. This additional funding which will support pregnant women, provide safe water and hygiene promotion, improve waste management, and help prevent further cases of hepatitis.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that basic water and sanitation services are available in the Bentiu camp for internally displaced persons in South Sudan.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. In Bentiu, climate and conflict have put more people in need of humanitarian support. Flood waters have also made the delivery of aid even more challenging, impacting supply routes including around the Bentiu Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp.
In December £500,000 of HMG humanitarian programme funding was reallocated to provide additional helicopter capacity so that humanitarian organisations could deliver aid to areas severely impacted by flooding, including Bentiu. We have also provided funding to different UN bodies and funds such as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which have allocated resources to Bentiu, and the World Food Programme who aim to support 37,000 people in Bentiu IDP camp. The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund that we contribute to has also recently allocated $2.3 million to support health, water and sanitation services for displaced people in Bentiu IDP camp. This additional funding which will support pregnant women, provide safe water and hygiene promotion, improve waste management, and help prevent further cases of hepatitis.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that the humanitarian response in South Sudan is scaled to meet the needs of those affected.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is deeply concerning and at a scale that cannot be met by individual donors. We remain a leading donor in South Sudan. Our strategic ODA priorities are: global health security, girls' education, humanitarian preparedness and response, open societies, and conflict resolution. This year HMG will: help 400,000 girls to access education and improve the learning environment for all South Sudanese children; provide life-saving access to quality health services across 8 states in South Sudan; and reach an estimated 2 million people with at least one form of humanitarian assistance.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department (a) has spent in the last ten years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on demining in (i) Iraq, (ii) Lebanon, (iii) Myanmar, (iv) Vietnam, (v) Angola, (vi) Cambodia and (vii) Zimbabwe.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK spent over £164 million on mine action between 2014-21. We have committed a further £17 million for financial year 2021-22. Both GMAP and GMAP2 supported mine action across the globe including in Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, Vietnam, Angola, Cambodia and Zimbabwe. The programmes involved clearing land; risk education to help affected communities keep safe; and capacity development for national authorities to help them manage their contamination.
The Global Mine Action Programme 3 (GMAP3) is due to begin in 2022; we are working towards finalising funding and country allocations and hope to share our plans for the programme in due course.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department (a) has spent on demining activity in South Sudan in the last ten years and (b) plans to spend on demining in South Sudan in each of the next three years.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
UK has funded mine action in South Sudan through the Global Mine Action Programme 2 since 2018. To date we have spent over £3 million and have further committed just under £500,000 in financial year 2021/22. The Global Mine Action Programme 3 (GMAP3) is due to begin in 2022; we are working towards finalising funding and country allocations and hope to share our plans for the programme in due course.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what projects her Department is (a) funding or (b) helping to fund to support the people of Madagascar to adapt to the impact of climate change.
Answered by Vicky Ford
As COP26 Presidents, the UK is committed to driving action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees and support countries most vulnerable to climate change, such as Madagascar, adapt to its impacts. The UK is a long-standing supporter of adaptation to climate change in Africa, with around half of the UK's £2.7 billion adaptation budget between 2016 and 2020 spent across the continent. Ahead of COP26, we have contributed £175 million to the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership, operating across Africa, which aims to make 1 billion people safer from disasters globally by 2025 through expanding early action financing, improving early warning systems and building the capacity to act on the risks they identify. At COP26, the UK has strengthened these commitments, joining African nations and other donors in contributing £20 million to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme - an African-owned initiative which aims to support at-risk communities in countries such as Madagascar build resilience to extreme weather - as well as an additional £42m for adaptation through our flagship Africa Regional Climate and Nature programme. The UK is also a major contributor to the World Bank International Development Association (IDA)'s large-scale infrastructure programme operating in Madagascar, which will support longer-term adaptation through the creation of multi-use water systems throughout the country's three southern regions.
The UK also remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis in southern Madagascar, which is driven by multiple factors including climate shocks. We are working closely with the UN, Government of Madagascar and other donors to ensure aid reaches those in need. In 2021, the UK has allocated £5 million to UN humanitarian agencies to provide life-saving food assistance, nutrition and health interventions, access to safe water and to reinforce humanitarian system coordination in southern Madagascar. This UK funding will reach 250,000 people, including the provision of food assistance in the form of emergency cash transfers to 132,000 people. In addition, the UK is a core contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund which has allocated approximately £5.78 million to the international response this year.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the progress of projects funded by her Department that are designed to improve the resilience and adaptation to climate change for the people of Tuvalu.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Pacific Island Countries are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The UK provides a range of support across the Pacific to finance adaptation in order to increase resilience to climate change. Most UK aid in the Pacific is delivered through multilateral institutions such as the Green Climate Fund. The Green Climate Fund currently has two projects under implementation and in progress that benefit Tuvalu. The Tuvaluan Coastal Adaptation Project aims to protect Tuvalu from the impact of rising sea levels and increasing cyclone events that threaten the country. A second Green Climate Fund project aims to enhance the climate information services in five Pacific countries, including Tuvalu, and support increased climate-resilient sustainable development. The Green Climate Fund's performance was assessed as meeting expectations in its most recent FCDO Annual Review. Reviews of this nature assess performance at the portfolio-level, and do not look at individual projects
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has plans to allocate Overseas Development Assistance to nutrition at the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit 2021.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The Government is actively considering its approach to the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit following the conclusion of the Spending Review. We will set this out as early as possible as part of the business planning process.
The FCDO is continuing to work closely with the Government of Japan to make sure that the 2021 Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit supports meaningful action by governments, donors, businesses, the UN, and civil society.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the value for money of nutrition programmes in the Overseas Development Assistance budget allocation.
Answered by Wendy Morton
The FCDO undertakes reviews of all its programmes on an annual basis, which include a close look at value for money. These are published on DevTracker, and include consideration of the programme's value for money. We also invest in evaluating our programmes to enable us to learn what works, and to adapt our approaches accordingly.
Investments in optimum nutrition, particularly those focused on the critical first 1000 days of life, are some of the best value-for-money development actions. For every pound spent by donors on basic nutrition programmes, there is a £16 return to the local economy.