Sudan and Eastern DRC Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Melanie Ward
Main Page: Melanie Ward (Labour - Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy)Department Debates - View all Melanie Ward's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(2 days, 23 hours ago)
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Melanie Ward (Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy) (Lab)
The Foreign Secretary spoke movingly about his visit to the Chad-Sudan border, and I commend him for bearing witness. There is no substitute for doing that.
Since April 2023, there have been more than 500 attacks on healthcare facilities in Sudan, and more than 100 healthcare workers have been killed. The Foreign Secretary will know that attacks on hospitals and healthcare are a growing and grotesque phenomenon across the world. Does he think we could use our position on the UN Security Council as the lead on the protection of civilians to bring together countries and drive forward action to protect healthcare and health facilities across the world?
Mr Lammy
My hon. Friend raises an important issue. We cannot live in a world where the rules are disregarded and where aid and peace workers are murdered as they go about their business. This has been the most horrendous period for the loss of life of good people doing good work. I will take up the call for a renewed effort, using our position on the UN to marshal that.