Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the support and help that Sudan provided to ease the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan by opening its border, allowing refugees to enter Sudan, and reducing the oil levy.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Sudan has facilitated the delivery of emergency humanitarian supplies into South Sudan. In 2014 the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Food Programme which has enabled 47,000 metric tons of emergency and nutrition assistance to be delivered to more than 200,000 South Sudanese in the Upper Nile State.
There are over 230,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan. Until March the government of Sudan allowed refugees to move freely, work, and live in host communities, but South Sudanese arriving since then have been classed as ‘foreigners’, thereby restricting their movements within Sudan. We are not aware of any formal agreement by Sudan to reduce the payments it levies on South Sudan’s oil exports.
Asked by: Lord Sheikh (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what humanitarian support and assistance they have (1) provided, and (2) plan to provide, for South Sudanese refugees in Sudan.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Since 2014, DFID Sudan has provided £10.4 million to address the humanitarian needs of South Sudanese refugees arriving in Sudan. The assistance has been in the areas of emergency food distribution, water and sanitation, education, and protection activities in the areas of White Nile State and Kordofan states. We are currently discussing with humanitarian partners in Sudan further contributions of approximately £3 million to be disbursed in the coming months.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further support if required.