Torbay MP Adrian Sanders asks about humanitarian aid in Parliament this week

Torbay MP, Adrian Sanders has been asking about humanitarian aid in Parliament this week.

It wasn’t the only written question he submitted, with other issues including crime figures by children in care, and the budget of the Probation Services.

The question he asked on humanitarian aid focused on Rwanda.

“What criteria are used to determine the level of direct humanitarian aid distributed to individual states; and to what extent Rwanda meets those criteria,” he asked.

Gareth Thomas, minister of state at the Department for International Development replied: The Department for International Development’s (DFID) support for humanitarian action is based on an assessment of need, without regard to political or other considerations and is targeted where the threat to life is most severe, where the extent and depth of suffering is greatest and the response capacities of host communities and authorities are most limited.

“In recent years Rwanda has not met these criteria to an extent that would necessitate humanitarian aid. DFID supports Rwanda through a £50 million (2009-10) aid programme which is focused on improving education, health, governance and economic growth.”

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