Africa and Afghanistan topped the list of MPs' concerns during international development questions in the Commons.

With the worsening situation in Zimbabwe and the Mount Nyiragongo volcanic eruption causing destruction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, international development secretary Clare Short said on Wednesday that Africa needed long term solutions.

Short said she would look at what more could be done to help citizens of the town of Goma, much of which has been destroyed by lava flows.

Labour MP Oona King said the situation in the Congo was being made worse by the on-going civil war. "Behind this humanitarian catastrophe is a man-made catastrophe," said King.

Short agreed and criticised the media for covering natural disasters while being less interested in long-term conflicts which she said were "of no interest to the media".

"It is the tragedies that don't hit the headlines that are destroying more lives," she told MPs.

John Battle, the Labour MP for Leeds West, also raised the development of Africa, warning that it must not be "locked out" of the benefits of globalisation.

Short replied: "We need a massive effort in Africa...big progress is possible."

Turning to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Anne McIntosh of the Conservatives said commitments needed to be made over a longer term than the one-year basis of most recent aid offers.

The secretary of state agreed, saying the war-torn country "cannot be rehabilitated in one year". "We must all do what we can to keep a sustained engagement to give Afghanistan a chance."

Liberal Democrat international development spokeswoman Jenny Tonge pressed ministers for reassurance that given current spending commitments money would be available for any future disasters and that the "cupboard is not bare". Short said she welcomed any extra funding and emphasised the need for flexibility in dealing with emergencies.

Turning to environmental issues in Africa, Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas urged the government to back "affordable and reliable" green energy for the continent.

However, his calls were rejected by Short, who argued that Africa needed to guarantee basic energy supplies and other essential infrastructure before investing in more expensive technologies.

"Sometimes people bring their greenest agendas to the poorest countries...Africa needs the basics," she told the Labour backbencher.

Her position was backed by the Conservative MP for Lichfield, Michael Fabricant, who said that for once he "absolutely agreed" with Short. The costs of green energy could be "prohibitive", he warned.

Short said privatisation in energy markets was required. "We need proper privatisation under good regulation."

Raising events in Zimbabwe, Conservative spokesman Nick Hawkins expressed concern for isolated communities at risk from "Mugabe's thugs".

Short replied that while the government was working for free and fair elections, she was not optimistic.

"The situation continues to deteriorate," she said.