To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the murder of civilians in Waterloo, Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [78323]

We have no precise figure for the number of civilian deaths in Waterloo. We believe that between 3,000 and 5,000 persons were killed during the rebel attack on Freetown in January, and that many of them had fled initially from Waterloo.The Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, succeeded in expelling the rebels from Waterloo on 24 February. In Waterloo, we understand that the rebels murdered some civilians and committed other atrocities; the rebels destroyed much of the town's infrastructure. Our High Commissioner in Freetown visited Waterloo on 6–7 March, and reported evidence of heavy fighting and widespread destruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of developments in Sierra Leone following the most recent reports of atrocities by rebel troops. [78421]

The situation in Freetown is improving, but remains volatile. The picture in the rest of the country is unclear, due to difficulties of access. Rebels are believed to be active in large areas of the north and east; for example, heavy fighting has recently been reported around Kambia, near the border with Guinea. We condemn the appalling atrocities, murder and destruction committed by the rebels. We continue to support strongly the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone and the efforts of the Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, to protect the civilian population. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's announcement on 2 March of a new £10 million package of assistance for Sierra Leone is further evidence of that commitment.