Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the most acute needs in South Sudan in the coming six months; and what improvements, if any, there have been in the security situation in relation to humanitarian aid and the safe distribution of relief supplies in conflict areas.

The UK continually assesses the scale of the need in South Sudan, which is beset by severe social, economic, and humanitarian challenges. UN agencies have said that the number of people in need of aid has risen to 7.6 million, and an estimated 4 million people are displaced, including 2 million who have fled to neighbouring countries. Over the next six months, the South Sudanese people will continue to be in dire need of food assistance, safe drinking water, and emergency health and education services.

The security situation continues to deteriorate, with violence perpetrated across the country, including by Government forces, in violation of the unilateral ceasefire declared earlier this year. We have been instrumental in agreeing a tougher approach to deliberate restrictions on humanitarian access by the Government of South Sudan. We ensure UKAid is effective by working through a range of UN and international organisations who are experienced in operating in South Sudan, and who can deliver flexibly according to need.