Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will increase multi-year funding to support the most food-insecure people in Sudan and Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
As announced by the Deputy Foreign Secretary during his visit at the end of March to the Chad/Sudan border to meet refugees from Sudan, this financial year the UK's official development assistance (ODA) will almost double to £89 million to Sudan with most of this going towards humanitarian aid including assistance to address food insecurity. Specifically, our ODA in Sudan will include support to UNICEF to provide emergency and life-saving food assistance to support people particularly in hard-to reach areas in Sudan, including nutrition, water and hygiene services for 500,000 children under 5. In addition, the UK will be working with the World Food Programme to provide assorted food commodities. The UK's ODA will also increase to £111 million to South Sudan, which will include provision for continued humanitarian support for new Sudanese refugees as well as vulnerable returnees and host communities in South Sudan. We will also continue to provide ODA assistance in Chad in 2024/2025, which will include support for the refugee crisis in eastern Chad such as food, shelter and other assistance by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and through the World Food Programme.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what diplomatic action they are taking, along with international partners, to secure a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan; and what consideration they have given to appointing a dedicated envoy for Sudan.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
The UK is working with a wide range of partners, including Gulf and African countries, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the UN, to urge the parties to agree a permanent ceasefire, to allow unfettered humanitarian access, to protect civilians and to commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process. We welcome reported plans to restart talks in Jeddah, jointly led by the US and Saudi Arabia. The UK Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea spends a significant amount of time on efforts to secure peace in Sudan, working closely with other envoys covering Sudan.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Leeds (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support members of the Sudanese diaspora in the UK.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
The FCDO maintains a relationship with, and supports, the Sudanese diaspora in the UK, including through engagement with them at events and at the monthly meeting between the FCDO and the APPG for Sudan and South Sudan.