Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the warning by Médecins Sans Frontières of a critical vaccine shortage in Darfur, and what steps they are taking in response.

We are concerned by reports of critical vaccine shortages in Darfur. The UK continues to provide support to the health sector in Sudan through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF). We are also supporting Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in their essential work to improve access to vaccines for the world's most vulnerable children. However, access constraints and insecurity are limiting the ability of partners to deliver in many areas, including Darfur. We continue to work with the UN, other donors and trusted partners to improve and increase the delivery of aid across Sudan. The Minister for Development and Africa met Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on the Sudan/Chad border in late March and saw the vital work on vaccinations performed there.