Vol. 535 No. 5
95 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the aid Ireland gives to Angola either bilaterally or through non-governmental organisations; and the actions he has taken to highlight the appalling plight of thousands of Angolans who are starving and are living in camps having been forced to leave their home due to the continuous state of war. [13014/01]
The United Nations currently estimates that over one quarter of the Angolan population of 13 million is dependent on international aid for survival. This Government is alarmed at the protracted humanitarian crisis in Angola. This is heightened by the ongoing fighting in many areas of the country which continues to undermine humanitarian relief efforts and effective delivery of assistance to significant numbers of vulnerable people.
This Government's humanitarian response to the crisis in Angola is twofold – the provision of emergency assistance supplemented by the continuation of small scale development assistance through NGOs. In 2000 this combined assistance totalled over £1,306,000.
So far this year Ireland Aid has allocated £1,073,000 in emergency humanitarian aid to Angola. This includes allocations to the Irish NGOs, Concern and GOAL, for projects dealing with health, sanitation and emergency agricultural assistance for war affected populations. Further grants were made to the World Food Programme for the distribution of food assistance and to UNICEF for a health and nutrition project. A grant was also made to the Halo Trust for a mine clearance project in Kuito, Bei Province. This project will clear 80,000 square metres for the urgent and safe accommodation of internally displaced persons.
Since 1992 the European Community Humanitarian Office, on behalf of member states, has provided over 125 million in Angola. This money continues to support humanitarian programmes in the areas of nutrition, food security, water and health needs.
