To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what has been the value of humanitarian aid provided to Kosovan refugees organised or administered by her Department (a) from October 1998 to 23 March and (b) since 23 March; and what plans she has to increase the scope of humanitarian assistance. [81943]

We committed £3 million for the period June 1998 to March 1999 for programmes of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons and refugees affected by the conflict in Kosovo. No additional allocations were made between October 1998 and 23 March 1999. Since March 23, the Government have committed a further £20 million for assistance to the Kosovo refugees.Our field offices in Tirana and Skopje are currently identifying priorities for future assistance. We are also ready to provide help for those in need within Kosovo as soon as secure access can be guaranteed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate her Department has made of the number of refugees who (a) left Kosovo up to 24 March and (b) have left Kosovo since 24 March; and what sources it uses to make such estimates. [81920]

Our primary source for estimates of refugee numbers is the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It estimates that 69,500 refugees left Kosovo for neighbouring states as a result of internal conflict up to 24 March 1999: and that a further 530,500 have left since 24 March, as at 26 April.