Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to those Burundians who have fled the country due to recent violence; and if she will make a statement.
Mr Nick Hurd
The UK Government is extremely concerned by the ongoing political unrest in Burundi, and its humanitarian consequences, including the flow of Burundian refugees to neighbouring countries.
The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the regional appeal, after the US. DFID is providing £14.25 million to support the relief efforts for refugees fleeing to Tanzania, the majority of which will be channelled through UN agencies (UNHCR and WFP). DFID is providing a further £3.9 million for the refugee response in Rwanda through both the UN and NGOs. This funding will be used by UN agencies and international NGOs to provide life-saving basic services to vulnerable populations, including full food rations.
Additionally, DFID’s preparedness programme (started in 2014) has enabled UNICEF and WFP to prepare to assist up to 10,000 people in Burundi and to stockpile high energy biscuits for 45,000 people in Rwanda. The programme also helped UNOCHA strengthen humanitarian coordination in Burundi. DFID has provided technical support, in the form of secondment of experts, to support UN agencies working in Burundi.
The START network (a consortium of international NGOs), which is supported by DFID, has released £442,327 in Burundi, £275,281 in Rwanda, £430,203 in Tanzania, and £330,000 in the DRC in support of the humanitarian response.
The UK Government supports the process of opening consultations with the Government of Burundi, as provided for by Article 96 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, to encourage the Burundian Government to make the right choices for the citizens of Burundi and bring stability to Burundi.
DFID will continue to monitor the situation closely with the FCO, and may consider additional funding, including within Burundi.
