FAMINE IN ERITREA

Early day motion 459, tabled 7 January 2003 by Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour). Signed by 83 members.

That this House is deeply disturbed and shocked at the extent of the food emergency in Eritrea and the lack of assistance offered by the international community to those affected by this famine; notes that the cereal harvest is expected to be 60 per cent. below the average of the last 10 years and will cover only 15 per cent. of Eritrea's food requirement; further notes that the Eritrean Government asked for food aid on 2nd September 2002 to cover a shortfall of 283,000 million tons but has yet to receive adequate assistance and that the World Food Programme appealed for $109 million and has so far received just $9 million: further notes that the UN Children's Fund has warned that 2.8 million Eritreans, over half the population, are experiencing pre-famine conditions due to the devastating drought currently gripping the country; and calls on the UK Government and countries within the EU to provide urgently needed financial aid and food sustenance to the people of Eritrea.

Signatures by party: Labour 58, Liberal Democrat 15, Labour/Co-operative 6, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, UUP 1.