Nov. 28 2022
Source Page: Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategyFound: Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy
Nov. 28 2022
Source Page: Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategyFound: Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative strategy
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to consolidate the recent ceasefire agreement in Tigray; and whether these include (1) the delineation of the boundaries in the region, (2) the movement of armed forces, and (3) other verification measures.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We welcome the recent agreement between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to end the conflict in northern Ethiopia. Under the terms of the agreement, the African Union will chair a monitoring committee comprising of representatives from the Ethiopian Government, the TPLF, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). They will be assisted by a team of African experts. The agreement calls upon international partners to support the agreement, help rebuild infrastructure, and support economic recovery. However, it is clear that this must be an African-led mechanism. The UK is ready to provide support as requested and is exploring with the Ethiopian Government and African Union.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the conflict in Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We welcome the recent agreement between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front to end the conflict in northern Ethiopia.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has held discussions with her counterparts in (a) Ethiopia and (b) Eritrea on ending aerial and ground bombardment of civilians in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The former Minister for Development visited Ethiopia on 19-20 October. She met Ethiopia President Sahle-Work and Deputy Prime Minister Demeke and raised the protection of civilians. The British Ambassador to Eritrea has regularly raised human rights issues, and the impact of its involvement in the war in northern Ethiopia on civilians, with the Eritrean Government. The indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas, no matter the weapon used, is against international law, and is unacceptable We have made numerous public statements urging all parties to the conflict to prioritise the protection of civilians. We welcome the 2 November peace agreement.
Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)
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 the number of civilians killed in the Ethiopian and Eritrean offensive in the Tigray region since September 1 2022.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Information on casualties from the conflict in northern Ethiopia is scarce. Since the resumption of fighting on 24 August it is likely that there have been thousands of casualties.
The UK welcomes the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and their commitment to scale-up the delivery of life-saving aid to Tigray. The UK calls upon the Eritrean Government to support the agreement by withdrawing its troops from Ethiopia.
Asked by: Harriet Harman (Labour - Camberwell and Peckham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the number of civilians that have been killed in the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Information on casualties from the conflict in northern Ethiopia is scarce. Since the resumption of fighting on 24 August it is likely that there have been thousands of casualties.
The UK welcomes the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and their commitment to scale-up the delivery of life-saving aid to Tigray. The UK calls upon the Eritrean Government to support the agreement by withdrawing its troops from Ethiopia.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of people who have been killed by (a) military conflict and (b) famine in Tigray in each of the last three years.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Reliable information on casualties as a result of conflict and famine in northern Ethiopia is scarce. It is likely that there have been thousands of battlefield casualties over the course of the conflict. 13 million people require humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict. As many as 5.4 million people are in need of aid in Tigray.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of reports of an aerial attack on a nursery in Mekelle Tigray on 24 August 2022; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
There was widespread reporting of an airstrike which hit a nursery in Tigray on 26 August. The UK has issued multiple public statements condemning civilian casualties and urging all parties to the conflict to prioritise the protection of civilians. Our Ambassador in Addis Ababa has raised incidents of civilian casualties repeatedly with the Ethiopian Government.
Asked by: Kate Osamor (Independent - Edmonton)
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 the impact the Tigray conflict has had on the Irob and Kunama communities.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
Like many in Tigray, the Irob and Kunama populations have suffered horrifically during the conflict. There are reports of indiscriminate shelling causing civilian casualties and millions require access to life-saving aid.
We welcome the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The agreement commits to mobilize and expedite humanitarian assistance for all those in need in the Tigray Region and other affected areas, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. It also commits to the restoration of essential services to the Tigray region. The UK will work alongside the Ethiopian Government and others to support implementation of the peace agreement.