Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on recent attacks by the Government of Sudan in the Jebel Marra region of Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of reports of fighting in the Jebel Marra region of Darfur between Government of Sudan troops and armed groups. Information is difficult to verify due to Government restrictions on access to the region. We are urging the Government of Sudan to ensure unfettered access for UNAMID, UN agencies and NGOs in order to corroborate reports and make an assessment of the scale and nature of fighting and its impact on civilians.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and raise our concerns about the violence and its impact with the Sudanese authorities. The British Ambassador raised our concerns with the President of Sudan during the formal presentation of his credentials on 14 May. Our Ambassador reiterated the importance of the unilateral cessations of hostilities, and urged all sides to abide by their pledges so that negotiations may resume in an environment that is conducive to peace.