Oral Answers to Questions

Ruth Jones Excerpts

Monday 11th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

We are unable to connect Tom Tugendhat, so I call Minister James Duddridge to answer the substantive question tabled by Ruth Jones.

[Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab)]

What recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (James Duddridge) [V]]

The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is bad. I had been an optimist on Zimbabwe post Mugabe, but things are bleak across the political, economic, social and humanitarian fronts. Her Majesty’s Government stand ready to support, but only when we see genuine reform. Until then, we support the people of Zimbabwe with a £140 million development package, but, crucially, none of that money goes directly through the Government of Zimbabwe.

[Ruth Jones [V]]

I thank the Minister for that update. There are currently 7 million people in urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, compared with only 5.5 million in August last year. What conversations has he had with the Zimbabwean Government to discuss their humanitarian needs?