Rwanda: Overseas Aid
International Development
Written answers and statements, 5 November 2009
Adrian Sanders (Torbay, Liberal Democrat)
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria are used to determine the level of direct humanitarian aid distributed to individual states; and to what extent Rwanda meets those criteria.
Gareth Thomas (Minister of State, Department for International Development; Harrow West, Labour)
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.