Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of their recently announced £10.3 million of additional funding to Bangladesh is dedicated to supporting Rohingya refugees.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a leading donor to the humanitarian response in Bangladesh and has provided £401 million to support the Rohingya refugees and host communities since 2017. During Minister West's recent visit to Bangladesh, she announced a further £10.3 million of UK funding. This will provide additional support to Rohingya refugees with clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, primary healthcare, protection services and shelter materials. UK funding will also provide assistance to those impacted by natural disasters in Bangladesh earlier this year. The UK remains at the forefront of international efforts to support Rohingya refugees.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any shortfalls in the funding of the World Food Programme in Somalia, and of any impact of such shortfalls on the Programme's ability to provide assistance to those who need it in that country.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The food security and livelihood component of the UN's Somalia appeal, which includes World Food Programme (WFP) operations, is less than 45 per cent funded. Vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of this funding shortfall with 17 per cent of Somalis facing food insecurity. The UK remains a key humanitarian donor, including to the WFP. Last year in Somalia the UK reached 1.4 million people with humanitarian assistance including nearly 370,000 people with food aid. This year the UK will allocate £38 million in life-saving humanitarian aid. The UK continues to leverage its leadership role in Somalia to mobilise funding from across the international community to address critical needs and support longer-term resilience.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of warnings by US-based group International Christian Concern on 28 October that China’s pledge of support for Iran could intensify the persecution of Christians in both China and Iran.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The conditions for freedom of religion or belief in both China and Iran are restrictive, particularly for Christians, who face persecution. This Government stands firm in its advocacy of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Foreign Secretary has raised human rights in every meeting with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including during his recent visit to China on 18 October. We have also repeatedly expressed concern at the ongoing incarceration and sentencing of members of Christian churches for practicing their faith in Iran. More broadly, this Government will champion freedom of religion or belief for members of all faiths worldwide. We will work to uphold this freedom through our positions at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the interim government of Bangladesh following reports by Amnesty International on 24 October that Bangladeshi border authorities have forcibly returned Rohingya people fleeing violence.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to support Rohingya refugees and the communities which host them. In Bangladesh, this includes engaging with the UN and non-governmental organisations to address protection risks, including reports of Rohingya being forcibly returned. In October, the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation of Rohingya refugees with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser when they met during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The UK will continue to promote the rights of Rohingya refugees, including in our discussions with the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of calls by Amnesty International on 24 October for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We condemn the ongoing serious human rights violations in Rakhine State, as well as previous atrocities against the Rohingya. These actions require further scrutiny and the UK is supportive, in principle, of any attempts to bring these issues before the International Criminal Court. Our assessment, however, remains that there is insufficient support amongst Security Council members for an International Criminal Court (ICC) referral. It will not advance the cause of accountability in Myanmar for an ICC referral to fail to win Security Council support or to be vetoed.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Myanmar following the increase in civilian casualties in Rakhine following the launch of the Arakan Army counter-offensive in October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has called for the protection of civilians by all parties both in public and in private. In May 2024, the UK along with international partners released a statement calling on the Military regime, and all armed actors, to ensure the protection of civilians in Rakhine state. In July 2024, we issued a similar call through a joint press statement with likeminded partners at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). We will continue to work with international partners to ensure there is accountability for acts committed against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities, including through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of funding challenges facing refugee camps in Chad on the levels of irregular migration in Europe.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Sudan has the largest displacement crisis in the world. 11 million people have been forcibly displaced and over 900,000 refugees and returnees have arrived in Chad. The UK recognises the severity of the crisis and the underfunding of the international response. Alongside monitoring the humanitarian impact of the Sudan conflict and any irregular migration to Europe as a consequence, the UK continues to support Chad: we are the third-largest donor to the response in Eastern Chad, providing £19.5m since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023. The UK has also contributed to focusing international attention on the conflict, notably through the Duchess of Edinburgh's visit to two refugee camps for Sudanese refugees in Chad in October this year.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in their capacity as penholder at the meeting of the UN Security Council in November to ensure regional actors are taking steps to prevent the escalation of the conflict in Sudan.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK uses its position as penholder at the UN Security Council to call on Member States to refrain from external interference which foments conflict and instability; for instance during our explanation of vote following the adoption of resolution 2750 on 11 September to renew the UN Darfur arms embargo and sanctions regime. The UK will assume the UN Security Council Presidency from 1 November. There is an open briefing on Sudan planned, which will reiterate our calls to the warring parties to cease hostilities and halt escalation of violence.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Iran regarding the persecution of Christians in that country.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We condemn Iran's restrictions against Freedom of Religion or Belief. Christians, particularly converts from Islam and other minority religions, continue to face severe repression in Iran. We are committed to holding Iran to account for its attacks against religious minorities, including at the UN Third Committee.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further steps they are taking to support Chad in coping with increasing numbers of Sudanese refugees.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan, the UK has provided £19 million in humanitarian funding to support Sudanese refugees and Chadian host communities in Eastern Chad. In August, Minister Dodds announced a further £15 million to support those fleeing violence in Sudan, Chad and South Sudan. This vital assistance will provide food assistance for 145,000 people in Sudan and 60,000 vulnerable refugees in Chad. The UK is the third largest donor to the response in Eastern Chad.