Written Answers. - Provision of Aid to Cambodia.
Richard Bruton
Question:
100
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will outline Ireland's attitude to the provision of development aid to Cambodia from either the United Nations or the EC; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is very high infant mortality in Cambodia due to the lack of basic facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Peter Barry
Question:
105
Mr. Barry
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if the EC will give economic assistance to Cambodia to help prevent the collapse of that country's economy which would facilitate the return of the Khmer Rouge to power.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 105 together.
The Government share the concern of Deputies on all sides of the House at the continuing deterioration of conditions in Cambodia. The infant mortality rate, which is estimated at between 12 per cent and 20 per cent is extremely high and Cambodia is among the countries which have made the least progress in reducing infant mortality in recent years. This is largely due to the lack of adequate medical and other basic facilities, combined with the grave social and economic difficulties caused by the continuing hostilities in that country.
I have placed on record on many occasions in this House the Government's support for humanitarian assistance for Cambodia. Both the UN and the EC continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Cambodian people.
In September 1990 Ireland provided £25,000 to OXFAM for purchase of shelter kits for use by people displaced by fighting within Cambodia. In November 1989 £50,000 was given to CONCERN for emergency aid supplies.
The latest figures supplied by the Commission on Community aid show that in 1990, 8.82 MECU was given in humanitarian aid for refugees on the Thai-Cambodian border. In addition 2.67 MECU was provided to non-governmental organisations for emergency relief within the country.
The United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF and the World Food Programme of the United Nations are in the process of opening liaison offices in Phnom Penh. In addition the Secretary General has established a trust fund to finance the start-up costs of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. The Government have contributed £100,000 to this fund.
I am fully aware of Cambodia's need for long-term development assistance. This need must be addressed in the context of an overall political settlement in that country. A major obstacle to such aid from either UN or EC sources continues to be that the administration in Phnom Penh, which was installed by the Vietnamese, is not recognised by the international community.
The European Community has indicated its willingness, on the achievement of a political settlement, to contribute to the reconstruction and development of Cambodia. It remains my hope that all parties in Cambodia will demonstrate a willingness to honour the commitments they have made to date in the negotiating process now under way and to co-operate with the sustained international effort to secure such a settlement.
In relation to Khmer Rouge, I refer the Deputies to my replies to questions on 31 October 1990 and 6 December 1990, setting out our overall approach to the Cambodian issue in which I made quite clear the Government's concern to ensure that there is not return to power of the murderous Pol Pot Khmer Rouge.
