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{
    "id": 187462,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/187462/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 126,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Shaban",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Special Programmes",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 139,
        "legal_name": "Naomi Namsi Shaban",
        "slug": "naomi-shaban"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) The Government employs the following criteria in the distribution of Emergency Relief Fund:- (i) The districts are allocated emergency relief funds if there arises a need for allocation of such funds. (ii) If normal lives of people are disrupted by any natural or man-made disaster thus making them unable to fend for themselves, the Government will be obliged to allocate emergency funds to assist the affected people. For example, a natural disaster such as drought or floods may destroy the ability of the people to feed themselves. That will occasion the intervention of the Government through the provision of emergency relief funds to address the situation. (iii) Man-made disasters like violence or conflict may render communities destitute and 2232 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 30, 2008 unable to cater for their basic needs. That will necessitate the Government to avail emergency relief funds. (iv) In determination of the long-term food need or communities in need of emergency relief fund, an assessment is conducted by a multi-agency team composed of relevant Government Ministries and United Nations (UN) agencies to establish how a disaster has impacted on the food security situation to a given community and the kind of intervention necessary to mitigate the effects. In the case of drought, an assessment exercise is conducted twice a year, after the short rains in February and after the long rains in July. The assessment comes up with specific recommendations in all sectors that are implemented by both the Government and development partners. A comprehensive programme is put in place to assist the affected people until they recover from the effects of the drought. Emphasis is also laid on non-food interventions that enhance the capacity of the people to cope with disasters. (v) In the case of disasters like conflicts, communities are assisted with food to address their immediate needs. In that case, peace-building initiatives are given priority as a long-term solution. (b) I wish to table the statistics showing the allocation and distribution of relief food to each location in Chalbi District between January and June, 2008. A total of 2,600 90-kilogrammes bags of maize were allocated to Chalbi District between January and June, 2008. A further 2,680 50- kilogrammes bags of maize were also given to them. Also 1,200 50-kilogramme bags of beans were given to them. They were also given 300 cartons of vegetable oil. The food distribution is tabulated, location by location."
}