Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Ministers will attend the United Nations Summit of the Future in New York in September 2024; and what outcome they will aim to achieve.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK delegation for the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week will be determined in the coming weeks. We expect broad attendance, reaffirming the UK's position as a strong supporter of multilateralism and the focus on delivering globally on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 23 July (HL8), what is their assessment of the likelihood of famine in Darfur, given the existing number of people experiencing emergency levels of hunger.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The conflict in Sudan has created a manmade humanitarian disaster with 9.25 million people facing emergency or famine conditions. For the first time, over 755,000 people are projected to be at risk of famine (IPC 5). This financial year, UK bilateral ODA to Sudan will increase to £92 million, with a significant amount going towards humanitarian aid. UK support is being delivered through the UN and other trusted partners and is providing nutrition, safe drinking water, medical care and shelter. The UK also continues to pursue all diplomatic avenues to press the warring parties into a permanent ceasefire, allow unrestricted humanitarian access, protect civilians and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking with international partners to end the current conflict in Sudan and prevent further civilian casualties.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK supports and works alongside international partners to press the parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire, allow unrestricted humanitarian access, protect civilians, and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process. The UK will also continue to use its position as penholder at the UN Security Council to urge the warring parties to achieve a ceasefire, increase much-needed humanitarian assistance and access and ensure the protection of civilians. On 13 June, the UNSC adopted a UK-led resolution demanding a halt to the Rapid Support Forces' siege of El Fasher and calling on warring parties to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities and safe, unimpeded humanitarian access.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, which warns that Sudan risks becoming an ideal environment for international terrorist and criminal networks, and predicts the expansion of affiliates of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the region.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We note the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community. We work closely with international partners, including the US, and we continue to support mediation efforts and urge both warring parties to engage constructively to secure a ceasefire and prevent the conflict spreading further.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of South Sudan to ensure that the elections which will take place in that country on 22 December will be free and fair.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK, and Troika (US, Norway), continue to press for implementation of South Sudan's Peace Agreement and a peaceful transition to democracy. We will continue to support the UN Mission in Sudan, who are mandated to support preparations for elections, including through the provision of technical assistance to electoral institutions.The UK also uses its position as a permanent member in the UN Security Council to express concern about the lack of progress in fulfilling necessary electoral preconditions.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are having with international partners to ensure that humanitarian aid can be provided to (1) those who have been displaced by the conflict in Sudan, and (2) those who remain within Sudan; and what is their assessment of the likelihood of famine in Darfur, given the existing number of people experiencing emergency levels of hunger.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The conflict in Sudan has created a manmade humanitarian disaster with 8.5 million people facing emergency or famine conditions. For the first time, over 755,000 people are projected to be at risk of famine (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification 5). The UK is working with international partners, including the UN, other donors and humanitarian agencies, to improve and increase the delivery of aid into Sudan. The UK is also helping those fleeing to neighbouring countries, with £7.75 million to support existing and new Sudanese refugees as well as vulnerable returnees and host communities in South Sudan, and £15 million to Chad.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposals in the Blue Smoke publication Unveiling Equalities: a briefing examining senior appointments at key UN environment and development bodies, published in November.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK is committed to supporting efforts to ensure merit based and inclusive multilateral appointments across all international organisations. Diversity of talent is critical in tackling our shared global challenges. The UK Government is proud to support the objectives of the UN's Senior Women Talent Pipeline, including programme funding totalling £61,292 in 2023/24, and will continue to support the UN with efforts to ensure diverse and merit-based appointments.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to mark United Nations Day on 24 October.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
This year's UN Day marks the 78th anniversary of the birth of the United Nations since the UN Charter came into force in 1945. The UK is proud to have been a strong supporter of the UN since its inception and we remain fully committed both to the UN and to the values it works to uphold. On 24 October, HMG will recognise UN Day through a series of posts across social media and other communications platforms as well as by attending relevant events at the UN in New York.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many organisations submitted proposals by the closing date of 31 July setting out how they could deliver a key component of the British Embassy in Kinshasa’s Humanitarian Action and Recovery after Crisis programme; and which organisation has been selected to deliver that programme.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
A large number of organisations submitted proposals setting out how they would deliver a key part of the British Embassy in Kinshasa's Humanitarian Programme. The decision as to which organisation will be selected to deliver is still ongoing and all those involved will be informed of the result in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what financial contribution they have made to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the financial year 2022–23; and what contribution has been allocated for this support in the financial year 2023–24.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is committed to supporting efforts to build stability and reduce violence in DRC including through the UN Peacekeeping Mission MONUSCO, where the UK contributed £51 million in 2022/23, and have allocated £48 million for 2023/2024.