To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid her Department has given to Eritrea in each of the last four financial years; and whether she plans to increase this in the next financial year. [105429]

The total development aid that my Department has provided to Eritrea in the most recent financial years for which we have figures available is:

	£ million
1998–99	0.868
1999–2000	0.438
2000–01	2.385
2001–02	1.511

In addition we have provided support to Eritrea

through the European Commission, where our share of European Development Fund 8 is 12.69 per cent. Our imputed share of EC contributions to the EC in the most recent four years that we have data for is:

	£ million
1997	0.7
1998	0.6
1999	0.7
2000	0.7

We do not have a development partnership with Eritrea. We will continue to make a contribution to meeting urgent humanitarian needs, and to the consolidation of the peace process. We will also continue to assess the scope for helping with economic and political reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Eritrea. [105430]

DFID continually monitors the humanitarian situation in Eritrea. In addition we have regular contacts with UN and international NGO relief organisations, and our Embassy in Eritrea regularly reports on humanitarian matters.A visit by DFID officials at the end of January confirmed our view that there are significant humanitarian needs in the country, with high rates of malnutrition demonstrated in many areas, particularly in the Anseba and North Red Sea zones. Our humanitarian assistance, which has focused on meeting the most urgent needs, has amounted to just over £3.35 million since the beginning of 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions her Department has had with the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Eritrea on aid reserves in Eritrea. [105431]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 26 March 2003, Official Report, column 244W.