Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the restriction of entry of humanitarian aid by the Sudanese Armed Forces to areas of need, and what action they will take to ensure consistent and unfettered access of aid.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the statement on Sudan I made in the House on 19 November, and to my remarks in the House of Lords debate on Sudan on 27 November. I will provide further updates to the House in due course, including on the progress we are making to reach all the people and regions currently in desperate need of humanitarian support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure that countries that supply weapons to militia in Sudan abide by international conventions aimed at preventing mass atrocities.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the statement on Sudan I made in the House on 19 November, and to my remarks in the House of Lords debate on Sudan on 27 November. I will provide further updates to the House in due course, including on the progress we are making to reach all the people and regions currently in desperate need of humanitarian support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are working with the UK branch of the Sudan Doctors Union about the most effective and impactful way to direct humanitarian aid in Sudan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the statement on Sudan I made in the House on 19 November, and to my remarks in the House of Lords debate on Sudan on 27 November. I will provide further updates to the House in due course, including on the progress we are making to reach all the people and regions currently in desperate need of humanitarian support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to respond to the humanitarian needs in the Kordofan regions of Sudan.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the statement on Sudan I made in the House on 19 November, and to my remarks in the House of Lords debate on Sudan on 27 November. I will provide further updates to the House in due course, including on the progress we are making to reach all the people and regions currently in desperate need of humanitarian support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent sectarian atrocities and abductions of children in Nigeria, and the underlying causes; and what recent discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria about securing the release of abductees and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the written statement that I made to the House on 27 November (UIN HLWS1104).
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 24 November (HL11698 and HL11699), what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about targeted killings, UK arms exports, and the support provided to civil society and faith-based organisations working to address religiously-targeted violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the written statement that I made to the House on 27 November (UIN HLWS1104).
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to coordinate with other governments efforts to strengthen existing bilateral sanctions and impose additional sanctions to prevent the sale and transfer of aviation fuel to Burma; whether they support the establishment of an aviation fuel embargo and the enforcement of a global arms embargo on the government of Burma through the UN Security Council; and whether they are taking steps to communicate the risk of potential criminal liability to companies involved in the government of Burma’s aviation-fuel supply chain.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based
Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.
We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and (2) the outgoing and incoming chairs of ASEAN, namely the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines, regarding the human rights situation in Burma, and the forthcoming elections proposed by the government of Burma.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based
Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.
We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the forthcoming elections in Burma, in particular whether they will be free or fair.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based
Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.
We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Nigeria on ensuring protection of Christians, especially in the middle belt and north of Nigeria; what response they have received; and whether they plan to review extant UK arms export licences to Nigeria.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I provided on 24 November to Question HL11756.