Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations' report on Hunger Hotspots June to October 2024, published in June 2024, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the impact of La Niña weather phenomenon; and what assistance he is providing to the countries and territories which are most impacted.

The UK is closely monitoring the potential development of La Niña conditions and in particular the risk of food security impacts in the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa.

The UK is a committed humanitarian donor, channelling over £277 million in humanitarian aid to African Countries in 2023 and is already operating humanitarian programmes in those countries of concern highlighted in the Hunger Hotspots report. Those programmes are standing by to adapt as required. On 22 August, I [the Minister for Development] announced an additional £15 million of vital assistance to Sudan, South Sudan and Chad.