asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the serious famine in Uganda; and the steps being taken at national and EEC levels to assist in an aid programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Uganda Famine Aid .
14.
: I am very much aware that the Karamoja region of north-western Uganda has been particularly badly affected by the prolonged drought conditions in East Africa which have brought famine and disease to large areas of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan as well as Uganda. The tragic situation in Karamoja has been exacerbated by the aftereffects of war.
On the national level, I announced, in an initial action in June a grant of £10,000 for the purchase of an ambulance, with a supply of medicaments, for use as a mobile clinic at Moroto, the administrative capital of Karamoja. In early September, I announced a further grant of £10,000 for CONCERN towards the cost of the medical team it has sent to the area.
Assistance from Community resources for Uganda in emergency and exceptional aid totals one million units of account in 1980 so far. This is in addition to Uganda's normal food aid allocation for 1980 under the Community's Food Aid Programme and to emergency food supplies approved for the East African region in general.
In addition to these and other governmental offers of assistance, a number of non-governmental organisations are also active in Karamoja in co-operation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which is co-ordinating the international relief effort. While reports received suggest that food aid pledges in response to appeals are sufficient to meet immediate needs, the situation remains serious due to poor rains and a small harvest, so that assistance will continue to be necessary into 1981. Continued assistance in the medical field will also be essential. It is my intention to keep developments in Uganda under close review in the coming months.
: Am I correct in thinking that £20,000 was the total mentioned by way of aid?
: Yes, that we gave directly to specific projects. We gave an ambulance, which is being used for a mobile clinic with a supply of medicaments. We sent a complete unit—ambulance, clinic, medicaments and personnel.
: In view of the appalling situation in Uganda and the huge numbers of people dying of hunger and malnutrition, would the Minister accept that the sum of £20,000 is a very paltry response to this desperate situation?
: There has also been substantial aid from the Community to which we are contributors as well——
: To a very small degree.
: On a bilateral basis we prefer to deal in a specific way, making a specific allocation in this case of something definite rather than aggregate money.
: I agree, but the amount involved is very small.