Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Afghanistan continues to face a serious and worsening humanitarian crisis. It is affecting over half of the population, with 19.7 million facing acute food insecurity. This is now one of the world's most severe food security crisis. 93% of households are reporting they do not have enough to eat. People continue turning to drastic measures to feed their families with 63% of households resorting to crisis coping strategies. Over 6 million people have been internally displaced and millions of children are out of school. The combination of food and other household prices rising and the reduction in economic opportunities in Afghanistan will lead to a significant increase in poverty rates in Afghanistan.
On 11 January 2022, the UN launched an appeal for $4.4 billion for 2022, the largest humanitarian appeal on record, reflecting the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge ahead. The UK was at the forefront in responding to this. On 30 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK pledge of £286 million for 2022/2023, the second highest commitment to the Humanitarian Response Plan for Afghanistan to date. This commitment reflects the UK's enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme that there will be increased demand for global humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict in Ukraine; and what plans they have to increase the UK's humanitarian assistance over the next 12 months.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Global humanitarian need and acute food insecurity is at an all-time high, driven by covid-19, climate change and conflict - with over 300 million people in need of assistance in 2022 and 43 million people living a step away from famine. Until Russia's invasion Ukraine's exports of food and fertiliser were feeding up to 400 million people worldwide. Russia's war is preventing these exports and causing food, energy and other commodity prices to rise, as well as diverting humanitarian resources from pre-existing crises. This is hitting the world's poorest hardest, and increasing global humanitarian needs.
The UK is a major humanitarian donor. We have announced a package to address critical rising food insecurity in the Horn of Africa including £25 million to Somalia, £88 million in Yemen, and pledged £286 million to meet needs in Afghanistan. The UK and our partners secured the largest ever World Bank financial commitment to developing countries affected by Russia's invasion - $170 billion over the next 15 months. The UK has also increased support through the Bank with approximately £730 million in financial guarantees so the Bank can lend more to Ukraine without taking resources from the rest of the world.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to include access to widow camps in North West Syria in their Syria Response Plan.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports improved access to reach populations in need across Syria. The UK continues to use our position at the UN Security Council to call on all parties to respect agreed ceasefires and we work closely with humanitarian partners, such as the UN and NGOs, to press for improved humanitarian access. The UK has sent a joint letter with six other donors to the UN leadership calling for a more effective response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) across the whole of Syria by ensuring greater prioritisation of critical needs, such as widows camps and more clearly articulated workplans to address them.
The UK funds UN and NGO partners to provide food, non-food items, water, education, healthcare, trauma and psychosocial support, safe spaces for children and victims of GBV and other life-saving assistance to those most in need in north west Syria. In 2021, the UK was the second largest donor to the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), a multi-sector, multi-donor pooled fund that has the flexibility to respond to emergency needs. The SCHF directs support towards the urgent needs of an estimated 2.8 million internally displaced persons in North West Syria, including women and children in widow camps.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to including widow camps in UN humanitarian programmes.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports improved access to reach populations in need across Syria. The UK continues to use our position at the UN Security Council to call on all parties to respect agreed ceasefires and we work closely with humanitarian partners, such as the UN and NGOs, to press for improved humanitarian access. The UK has sent a joint letter with six other donors to the UN leadership calling for a more effective response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) across the whole of Syria by ensuring greater prioritisation of critical needs, such as widows camps and more clearly articulated workplans to address them.
The UK funds UN and NGO partners to provide food, non-food items, water, education, healthcare, trauma and psychosocial support, safe spaces for children and victims of GBV and other life-saving assistance to those most in need in north west Syria. In 2021, the UK was the second largest donor to the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), a multi-sector, multi-donor pooled fund that has the flexibility to respond to emergency needs. The SCHF directs support towards the urgent needs of an estimated 2.8 million internally displaced persons in North West Syria, including women and children in widow camps.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultations they have had, if any, with (1) the UN, and (2) other donor countries, to advocate for humanitarian access to widow camps in North West Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports improved access to reach populations in need across Syria. The UK continues to use our position at the UN Security Council to call on all parties to respect agreed ceasefires and we work closely with humanitarian partners, such as the UN and NGOs, to press for improved humanitarian access. The UK has sent a joint letter with six other donors to the UN leadership calling for a more effective response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) across the whole of Syria by ensuring greater prioritisation of critical needs, such as widows camps and more clearly articulated workplans to address them.
The UK funds UN and NGO partners to provide food, non-food items, water, education, healthcare, trauma and psychosocial support, safe spaces for children and victims of GBV and other life-saving assistance to those most in need in north west Syria. In 2021, the UK was the second largest donor to the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), a multi-sector, multi-donor pooled fund that has the flexibility to respond to emergency needs. The SCHF directs support towards the urgent needs of an estimated 2.8 million internally displaced persons in North West Syria, including women and children in widow camps.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Tunisia about democracy and governance in that country.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by President Saied's decision to dissolve Parliament and the possibility of politicians from the previous government facing criminal charges. At a time when Tunisia faces serious long-term challenges, the need for political engagement and dialogue is greater than ever. The UK has closely monitored the political situation in Tunisia since the changes brought in by President Saied on 25 July 2021, and we will continue to do so. We are monitoring legal cases being brought against politicians from the parliament and previous governments, including allegations of irregularities in the 2019 elections, and are concerned that these could be used to prevent opposition politicians from contesting future elections.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on democratic governance in Tunisia of (1) the dissolution of Parliament by Tunisian President, Kais Saied, and (2) the President’s stated intent to prevent opposition politicians from standing in elections planned for December.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by President Saied's decision to dissolve Parliament and the possibility of politicians from the previous government facing criminal charges. At a time when Tunisia faces serious long-term challenges, the need for political engagement and dialogue is greater than ever. The UK has closely monitored the political situation in Tunisia since the changes brought in by President Saied on 25 July 2021, and we will continue to do so. We are monitoring legal cases being brought against politicians from the parliament and previous governments, including allegations of irregularities in the 2019 elections, and are concerned that these could be used to prevent opposition politicians from contesting future elections.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the decision made by the Tunisian President, Kais Saied, to dissolve the Tunisian Parliament without scheduling elections within three months.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by President Saied's decision to dissolve Parliament and the possibility of politicians from the previous government facing criminal charges. At a time when Tunisia faces serious long-term challenges, the need for political engagement and dialogue is greater than ever. The UK has closely monitored the political situation in Tunisia since the changes brought in by President Saied on 25 July 2021, and we will continue to do so. We are monitoring legal cases being brought against politicians from the parliament and previous governments, including allegations of irregularities in the 2019 elections, and are concerned that these could be used to prevent opposition politicians from contesting future elections.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to investigate who is responsible for reported attacks against refugee and Internally Displaced Persons camps in (1) Northern Syria, and (2) Iraq; and what steps they will take to ensure that the perpetrators do not undertake such attacks in future.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of reports of attacks carried out by Turkey in both Northern Iraq and Syria and continue to follow the situation closely. FCDO Ministers and senior officials regularly reiterate the need for dialogue and cooperation between Iraq and Turkey to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians. We welcome recent discussions between Iraqi and Turkish Defence Ministers regarding Ankara's military operations against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We welcome the fact that the ceasefire in north west Syria agreed by Turkey and Russia in March 2020 is broadly holding. We are concerned by increased violence in recent months, including frequent airstrikes and daily artillery shelling. It is essential that all parties to the conflict respect the ceasefire and allow humanitarian access. We urge all parties to increase their efforts to adhere to it.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of bombings carried out on 1 February in (1) Iraq, and (2) Northern Syria, which targeted refugee and Internally Displaced People camps, resulting in (a) multiple casualties, and (b) destruction.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of reports of attacks carried out by Turkey in both Northern Iraq and Syria and continue to follow the situation closely. FCDO Ministers and senior officials regularly reiterate the need for dialogue and cooperation between Iraq and Turkey to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians. We welcome recent discussions between Iraqi and Turkish Defence Ministers regarding Ankara's military operations against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We welcome the fact that the ceasefire in north west Syria agreed by Turkey and Russia in March 2020 is broadly holding. We are concerned by increased violence in recent months, including frequent airstrikes and daily artillery shelling. It is essential that all parties to the conflict respect the ceasefire and allow humanitarian access. We urge all parties to increase their efforts to adhere to it.