Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department has taken in its role as the penholder on Sudan at the United Nations Security Council.

The UK uses its position as penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council to urge the warring parties to secure a ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access, protect civilians and commit to a meaningful peace process. Most recently, the UK has used its position to condemn the escalating violence in El Fasher. The UN Security Council agreed a UK-led press statement on 27 April, calling for de-escalation, and we also called for the Security Council to convene on the deteriorating situation, which it did on 29 April. We will continue to use every available opportunity at the UN to ensure that a spotlight remains on Sudan and to urge the warring parties to end the needless suffering of the Sudanese people.