EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/49

(2004/C 88 E/0052)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1897/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Subject: Food aid for Zimbabwe

Paragraph 5 of Parliament's resolution of 13 February 2003 (1) on human rights in Zimbabwe states the following:

Condemns the utilisation of food aid as a political weapon against opposition supporters; asks the government of Zimbabwe to guarantee food distribution to the population regardless of political affiliation; calls on the international community, including the UN, to take a more interventionist approach to food distribution, to provide protection for safe and fair delivery of food to those who need it, and to work with Zimbabwe's neighbours who are confronted with refugee problems.

However, reports are still reaching us concerning shipments of European food aid which are not being delivered. Further evidence of this emerged, for example, during an exchange of views held last week in Strasbourg with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Pius Ncube.

What practical steps is the Commission taking to deal with this problem?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

The Commission's EuropeAid Cooperation Office (AIDCO) is responsible for the management of food aid budget allocations in favour of Zimbabwe. In response to the United Nations (UN) emergency appeals for 2002/2003 a total of EUR 63,8 million was committed from the Commission's food security budget line. This enabled the conclusion of contracts with implementing partners (World Food Program (WFP) and EuronAid) to procure, deliver, and distribute over 130,000 tonnes of food to targeted beneficiaries. Distribution is and will continue to be organised through the WFP and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector and does not involve Government or any Government agencies. All of this food aid has been delivered in the country since beginning of 2002 and is expected to be fully distributed by the end of June 2003. At the peak of the distribution process during the period February 2003 to May 2003 in excess of five million beneficiaries benefited from food aid pipelines.

Working with its partners and the UN structure the Commission continues to monitor closely, without difficulties, the distribution process and the targeting of international aid. The international community in Zimbabwe has actively followed all reported instances of politicisation, and has investigated all reports of abuse of food aid. In the beneficiary targeting process the identification of the vulnerable is done in accordance with recognised criteria and in consultation with the local community structure. The Humanitarian Aid Office of the Commission (ECHO) has allocated EUR 5 million to WFP precisely to improve the combined capacity of WFP and partners to distribute food aid in a completely transparent, well monitored and well documented fashion. The Commission is satisfied that the selection, distribution and monitoring process continues to ensure that only those most in need receive aid. Furthermore, the Commission insists with all its partners in Zimbabwe that the guidelines for the distribution of humanitarian aid as adopted by most Member States are strictly adhered to.

The international community, through the office of the UN, has and continues to adopt an interventionist approach in dealing with the humanitarian crisis not just in Zimbabwe but also in the southern African region as a whole. It is generally recognised that this intervention has averted a humanitarian catastrophe during the period since July 2002. The UN's regional consolidated appeal process (CAP) for 2002/2003 has been well supported and made a significant impact. A further CAP covering the period to July 2004 should soon be launched. The 2003/2004 CAP is multi sectoral and will specifically target the most vulnerable sectors of society and especially those affected by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic.

Food procurement and distribution will again play an important role in the CAP especially for specifically target groups in Zimbabwe. All food aid to targeted beneficiaries in Zimbabwe will again be channelled through our WFP and EuronAid partners and will be distributed at the district level by international and local NGOs. Government or government agencies will play no part in the distribution of food pledged under the CAP.

(1) P5-TA (2003)0066.