To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Somali refugees he estimates are now in each neighbouring country; and what assistance his Department is providing to those refugees in each country. (186279)

UNHCR is the UN agency with principal responsibility for protecting and assisting refugees. The latest estimates from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for the number of Somali refugees resident in countries neighbouring Somalia are as follows:

The UK provides its primary support to refugees through the UNHCR. In 2007 the UK was the sixth largest donor to UNHCR for its global operations with contributions amounting to $56.2 million. The European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) is the second largest contributor to UNHCR. The UK provides 17.39 per cent. of ECHO'S funding. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), also provides assistance to UNHCR for refugee assistance in these countries. DFID has provided 14.8 per cent. of funding available in the CERF in 2008 to date.