We are seriously concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Burundi.<\/p>
<\/p>
To support the international response and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan, DFID has provided £9.25million to support relief efforts for Burundian refugees fleeing to Tanzania and £3.9million to support Burundian refugees in Rwanda. This funding will be deployed to provide life-saving activities (water and sanitation infrastructure, shelter, health and food rations).<\/p>
<\/p>
We have deployed human resources to improve the quality of the response (a secondment to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to work with the country team in Burundi to strengthen coordination and planning, as well as a DFID Humanitarian Advisor to work with Tanzania and Rwanda DFID offices to monitor the situation and develop appropriate programme responses).<\/p>
<\/p>
DFID is also the main donor to the international NGO consortium START network, which provides funding to international NGOs to rapidly respond to emergencies and build the capacity of local NGOs. DFID has provided £13.7million to the network for its global operations since April 2014. To support the humanitarian response to the Burundian situation, START has so far released £442,327 in Burundi, £275,281 in Rwanda, £ 430,203 in Tanzania and £330,000 in the DRC.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
DFID continues to work closely with the FCO to monitor the situation in Burundi and in the surrounding areas and to work with our partners to respond to needs on the ground.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-16T16:13:15.643Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Burundi: Refugees"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her policy is on providing additional funds to the Regional Refugee Response Plan for the situation in Burundi.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3958", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Fiona Bruce"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Congleton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Fiona Bruce"} ], "uin" : "6798"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/389537", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/389537/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK does not provide direct funding to the Government of Eritrea. The only funding from the UK in Eritrea is to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). We also give core funding to a number of multilateral organisations that work in Eritrea, including the African Development Bank, EU and Global Fund. The EU\u2019s development funds are conditional under the terms of the Cotonou Agreement. The EU\u2019s 2014-20 development funding for Eritrea is under discussion and has not yet been approved. We share the Commission of Inquiry\u2019s concerns regarding human rights in Eritrea, in particular widespread arbitrary detention and shortcomings in the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms. We regret the Government of Eritrea\u2019s failure to receive the Commission in Asmara, which compelled the Commission to rely on witnesses who are outside the country. The UN Human Rights Council, of which the UK is a member, voted on 2 July 2015 to extend the Commission\u2019s mandate for one year to allow the Commission to further investigate the human rights situation in Eritrea. The UK will continue to engage closely with the Commission, and with other parts of the UN system, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Eritrea. The Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group\u2019s (SEMG) mandate is not to investigate alleged human rights abuses in Eritrea. The SEMG\u2019s remit is to investigate any attempts by the Government of Eritrea to destabilise the Horn of Africa by supplying arms or financial support to Al-Shabaab. The SEMG is due to submit its full report to the UN Security Council this autumn. We have made clear to Eritrea that it must cooperate fully with the Monitoring Group.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-20T14:28:40.48Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Eritrea: Human Rights"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea brought before the UN Human Rights Council on 4 June 2015, what steps he has taken to (a) ensure that no UK or EU funding is provided to Eritrea that in any way strengthens or enhances their capability to repress or oppress the Eritrean people, (b) follow up the Commission's finding within the UN and (c) provide assistance to the UN Somali/Eritrea Monitoring Group in investigating alleged abuses by the Eritrean government.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4514", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Keir Starmer"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Holborn and St Pancras"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Keir Starmer"} ], "uin" : "6782"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/389551", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/389551/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The UK supports faith and community-led reconciliation efforts through funding to the South Sudan Peace and Reconciliation Commission (SSPRC) to enable mitigation of potential local conflicts; support to the Catholic Relief Services in coordinating conflict prevention; support to a cross-border conflict mitigation programme on the Sudanese border; and support of a nation-wide survey on how communities resolve local disputes through the Community Security and Arms Control Programme (CSAC). On 28 May 2015 officials at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office used a social media channel to express support for a statement of the South Sudanese Council of Churches that condemned the recent Human Rights violations and emphasised the need to bring an immediate end to the conflict.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-20T14:24:01.493Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Peace Negotiations"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to assist faith and community-led reconciliation efforts in South Sudan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1576", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Pritchard"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "The Wrekin"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mark Pritchard"} ], "uin" : "6638"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388686", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388686/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
DFID\u2019s responsibilities on climate and environment derive from the International Development Act\u2019s commitment to sustainable development, based on the substantial evidence that poverty eradication is not possible without tackling climate change. Climate and environment risks and opportunities are considered as part of DFID\u2019s programing to ensure it supports climate resilience and lower carbon growth to eradicate poverty. The capacity of DFID staff to do this has been developed through DFID\u2019s \u2018Future Fit\u2019 programme which has worked with all DFID spending departments to develop climate plans.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
In addition, the UK\u2019s flagship International Climate Fund (ICF) has been used to integrate climate issues in DFID programmes in climate vulnerable sectors such as forestry, water, agriculture and disaster management. The ICF has already helped 15m people cope with the impacts of climate change, and created 39,000 jobs many of them in low carbon energy programmes that have provided access to low carbon energy to more than 2.8m people.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-15T15:31:42.747Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Overseas Aid"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that all UK international aid is responsive to (a) climate change and (b) low carbon emissions; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1437", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lady Hermon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Down"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lady Hermon"} ], "uin" : "6196"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388315", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388315/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Technology has the potential to increase the impact and value for money of UK Aid; and to pull people out of poverty. Many of DFID\u2019s programmes enable communities to access life-changing products and services via the internet, often through a simple mobile phone.<\/p>
<\/p>
Unfortunately, cost continues to be a barrier to internet access for communities in many developing countries. DFID has supported initiatives such as the Alliance for Affordable Internet \u2013 a cross-sector coalition which was formed to bring about policy change to drive down the costs of broadband in developing countries. DFID continues to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders on this agenda including our donor counterparts in the US and Sweden, philanthropic foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Omidyar Network and the World Wide Web Foundation, technology firms including Google and Facebook and bodies such as the UN\u2019s International Telecommunications Union (ITU).<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-14T15:17:36.563Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Developing Countries: Internet"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with (a) her international counterparts and (b) UN bodies on the provision of cheap and effective internet access to communities in developing countries.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4394", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Imran Hussain"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bradford East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Imran Hussain"} ], "uin" : "5772"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388316", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388316/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We have raised the issue of the protection of civilians, particularly children, both as part of our broader human rights engagement with the Government of South Sudan, as well as with the opposition, most recently on the 7th<\/sup> of July. Her Majesty\u2019s Ambassador (HMA) to South Sudan, together with Heads of EU Missions in Juba, issued a statement on the 2nd<\/sup> July 2015 condemning the human rights atrocities in Unity State that were raised in the recent UNICEF and United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports. The joint statement strongly condemned the horrific acts against civilians, including children, and urged all parties involved to take steps to end these atrocities as a matter of urgency. We continue to call for the Government to allow further investigations by granting unimpeded access to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). We will continue to press the Government of South Sudan to ensure the protection of its citizens and investigate these atrocities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-13T13:50:42.253Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan: Offences against Children"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the UNICEF news note on children killed, abducted and raped in South Sudan attacks, dated 18 May 2015, if she will hold discussions with the government of South Sudan on the protection of children in that country from such attacks.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "5841"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388317", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/388317/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In May 2015, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessed that 4.6million people (40% of the population) of South Sudan would be in IPC Phases of Crisis or Emergency from May to July 2015. This assessment did not take into account the subsequent fighting which erupted in Unity State in May and has left up to a million people without access to vital humanitarian aid. To respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, the UK announced £40million of funding on 16th<\/sup> June 2015. This is in addition to the UK\u2019s existing commitment of £132.5m in South Sudan (and a further £58.9 million for South Sudanese refugees in the region) since December 2013. Further funding is being considered.<\/p> <\/p> The South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan has sought $1.63 billion to meet the most urgent needs until the end of 2015 and it is so far 49% funded. The UK Government continues to urge the international community to respond as we have and follow our lead.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-14T15:18:31.957Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "South Sudan"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/545", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Flynn"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newport West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Flynn"}
], "uin" : "5816"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/387875", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/387875/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Total spend to date on the Prevention of Maternal Death from Unwanted Pregnancy programme has been £59.7 million. The programme works in a comprehensive and integrated manner and spend is not disaggregated by service type.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The programme delivers value for money when compared with both international standards and its own output targets. The programme is subject to DFID\u2019s approach for conducting due diligence of delivery partners. Further information on both value for money and programme oversight can be found on DFID\u2019s development tracker at devtracker.dfid.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1582", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grant Shapps"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Welwyn Hatfield"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Grant Shapps"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-07-13T13:49:15.763Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "20"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Development"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Developing Countries: Abortion"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent (a) in total on the Prevention of Maternal Death from Unwanted Pregnancy programme, (b) for abortion services by the Prevention of Maternal Death from Unwanted Pregnancy programme and (c) supporting locally-led changes to the regulatory and policy environments for abortion services as part of the Prevention of Maternal Deaths from Unwanted Pregnancy programme since the inception of that programme; what measures are in place to ensure value for money in the delivery of the programme; and what scrutiny is applied to organisations commissioned with the delivery of the international aspects of the programme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "5734"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/387322", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Development"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/387322/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "