El Fasher

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Excerpts

Thursday 30th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for that question. As I said, we too have been urging action for the duration of this conflict, and we are very pleased with the efforts of the Quad. The most important priority, as set out in the Quad statement, is that we must have humanitarian access. The problem is not funds; the problem is access.

[Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, the horrific images are finally pushing through into our media, and they should be an absolute wake-up call for this place and the other place. It has been a long time coming, as other noble Lords have said. For years, Christians have been slain and displaced, and women subjected to sexual violence of the worst kind. Given that we are the penholder at the UN, will the Minister confirm that, as a first step, His Majesty’s Government will press for a ceasefire and protection for the civilians in El Fasher?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for that question. I am happy to confirm that we will continue to press for a ceasefire, support the Quad and, through our role at the UN, promote the priorities that I have set out. I should say that the reports of mass atrocities caused by the RSF in El Fasher are deeply alarming, and we do not in any way underestimate the seriousness of what is going on.