Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy to support the renewal of UN Security Council Resolution 2165.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK is committed to the renewal of Resolution 2165, which allows much needed aid to be delivered cross-border into Syria. British officials will soon begin discussions with likeminded countries on the UN Security Council on the renewal, and will also be consulting international non-governmental organisations.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey are not repatriated to Syria against their will.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We have been clear in our public statements and in our engagement with Turkey and Syria's other neighbours, that any return of refugees to Syria must be voluntary and in line with international law. We do not support forced returns and would not support returns to areas that have not yet been declared safe by the UN.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK is committed to highlighting the appalling violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Syria and to seeing those responsible for the most serious crimes held to account in the most appropriate jurisdiction. We continue to support the UN Commission of Inquiry's investigations into human rights violations and abuses in Syria and the work of the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) which is gathering evidence for the prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law in Syria. The UK has contributed over £9 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations, including £950,000 to the IIIM.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make an assessment of the accuracy of reports by the (a) International Committee of the Red Cross and (b) Syrian Arab Red Crescent that Hassekeh city is at risk of running out of water as a result of damage to the main water station during the recent escalation in military conflict; and what steps will his Department take to ensure adequate water supplies to that region.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We are aware of water shortages in Hassekeh. These have been caused by the damage to the Alouk/Al Haouk water station, which compounds an existing issue as water supplies in Hassekeh have been under enormous strain since before the crisis. This water station is critical and serves approximately 400,000 people in Hassekeh and camps in the area. The UN is currently assessing the damage and needs in the water station. We are actively engaging with partners on the ground to assess any impact on their ability to assist those in need. Whilst partners had prepared contingency planning and prepositioned supplies in advance of the recent crisis, we understand that some of our partners have now had to suspend operations to protect their staff. In spite of this, we are engaging with our partners to ensure humanitarian access is continuing to be delivered to those in need. The Secretary of State has been in contact with Sir Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, to identify gaps in the humanitarian response.
Last financial year we provided over £40 million in humanitarian assistance in Northeast Syria, and intend to continue our support at that level this financial year. This support is focussed on reaching those in most acute need, providing vital food, water, shelter and healthcare.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the al-Hol refugee camp in Syria; and what steps her Department is taking to support refugees within that camp.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We are working closely with our partners on the ground to meet the humanitarian needs of the roughly 70,000 people in Al Hol camp. Conditions at the start of the year were very poor, following a large and unplanned influx of people in need.
Last financial year we provided over £40 million in humanitarian assistance in Northeast Syria, and plan to continue our support at that level this year. The UK’s initial humanitarian response focused on immediate, life-saving support, such as food, water, shelter (over 1,300 tents for example) and healthcare. This included providing “safe spaces” for children in the camp.
The biggest challenge facing our current programme is security of staff, with recent events resulting in NGO international staff being evacuated and local staff having to continue delivery under difficult circumstances. In spite of this, we are engaging with our partners to ensure humanitarian access is continuing to be delivered to Al Hol.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking to improve human rights in Uganda.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK firmly believes that human rights are universal and should apply equally to all people. We promote universal human rights as part of our Commonwealth engagement. Where we have specific concerns, we raise them directly as part of our ongoing dialogue with the Ugandan Government. Our High Commission, alongside other missions in Kampala, has released statements calling on the Ugandan Government to guarantee freedoms enshrined in the Ugandan Constitution. In Uganda, UK Aid funds human rights training for police and the prisons service. We will continue to support civil society groups in Uganda working to improve protection of minority rights.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Greek counterpart on that Governments policy to contain people on Greek islands in the Aegean sea following reports of (a) inhumane living conditions, (b) generalised insecurity and (c) inadequate provision of essential healthcare and mental healthcare services for children and unaccompanied minors on those islands.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
New migrant arrivals on the Greek islands are accommodated in Reception and Identification Centres ("hotspots") while they are processed in line with the 2016 EU/Turkey statement. Due to high numbers of arrivals, some of the hotspots are operating well beyond capacity and conditions for many migrants are poor. The United Kingdom continues to raise concerns about conditions on the islands in discussions with the Greek Government.
As part of its efforts to ease congestion on the islands, the Greek Government is transferring the most vulnerable migrants to accommodation on the Greek mainland. As part of our support for the EU/Turkey statement, the United Kingdom is providing interpreters to support migrants in the hotspots, including to help identify the most vulnerable. We are also funding a shelter for the most vulnerable unaccompanied children on Samos.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has had made to his Ugandan counterpart on the proposed legislation in that country to impose the death penalty as a punishment for gay sex.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
On 11 October a spokesperson from the Ugandan Government confirmed they do not intend to introduce new anti-homosexuality laws and we continue to follow closely any developments related to the death penalty. The British Government is fundamentally opposed to all forms of discrimination and works to uphold the rights and freedoms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people in all circumstances. We make regular representation to governments around the world on this issue. The UK also works with international partners and in multilateral fora including the UN, EU and the Commonwealth to promote tolerance and non-discrimination towards LGBT people globally, and to address discriminatory laws.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian effect of the escalation of military activity in Northern Syria; and what steps his Department is taking to help alleviate the humanitarian situation in that region.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The situation in Northeast Syria remains very fluid, and we are continually adjusting our assessment of the current impact on the humanitarian situation in the region at this stage.
The ongoing military action on the ground is having an impact on the humanitarian response. Many NGOs have already had to withdraw staff, and some have suspended activities altogether. This is very concerning, and we are discussing closely with our NGO partners and the UN. The Secretary of State has been in touch with Sir Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, and other UN officials.
We have allocated £40 million this financial year for our NGO and UN partners operating in Northeast Syria. Our funding is focused on providing vital food, water, shelter and healthcare. We have been in close dialogue with our partners to ensure that they have the flexibility to utilise this funding to meet immediate needs arising from the current military action in the region. We are assured that they do, but will keep this under review, given the fluidity of the situation and the significant access constraints for humanitarian actors on the ground.
Asked by: Stephen Twigg (Labour (Co-op) - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access for humanitarian supplies in Northern Syria after the recent escalation of military activity in that region; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure humanitarian support is provided to people in that region.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The situation in Northeast Syria remains very fluid, and we are continually adjusting our assessment of the current impact on the humanitarian situation in the region at this stage.
The ongoing military action on the ground is having an impact on the humanitarian response. Many NGOs have already had to withdraw staff, and some have suspended activities altogether. This is very concerning, and we are discussing closely with our NGO partners and the UN. The Secretary of State has been in touch with Sir Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, and other UN officials.
We have allocated £40 million this financial year for our NGO and UN partners operating in Northeast Syria. Our funding is focused on providing vital food, water, shelter and healthcare. We have been in close dialogue with our partners to ensure that they have the flexibility to utilise this funding to meet immediate needs arising from the current military action in the region. We are assured that they do, but will keep this under review, given the fluidity of the situation and the significant access constraints for humanitarian actors on the ground.