Thursday, 16 May - Following last month's call by Parliament for an emergency food aid package for Africa where more than 30 million people are facing starvation, the Community has agreed to send assistance worth 140m ECU or sufficient to provide 400,000 tonnes of cereals. In addition, the member states will be providing a further 150,000 tonnes.

Parliament now wants the aid to be sent as quickly as possible and distributed by international charities working in the countries affected. It is also seeking to ensure the fullest cooperation from the governments of the countries concerned and calling for EC member states to make available transport planes to help with distribution.

Margaret Daly (Somerset and Dorset West, ED) made the point that never before had so many disasters happened at the same time