Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of violence and alleged human rights abuses in Las Anod.

The fighting in Las Anod has seen credible reports of shelling of civilian areas, including a hospital. The humanitarian impact has been severe with more than 180,000 people displaced from their homes. The UK is providing a range of humanitarian support. We assess that there are risks of further escalation if a ceasefire is not agreed and we are working privately and publicly with a range of partners to press all parties to the conflict to end the fighting. On 15 April, the UK and 14 international partners held a joint call with President Bihi to press for de-escalation and humanitarian access. We have issued several statements independently and with partners, most recently on 15 April following the above call, calling for de-escalation, humanitarian access and dialogue. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and to press for a resolution to the conflict.