Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of current (1) rates of (a) starvation, and (b) malnutrition, and (2) the availability of food, in Tigray.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The conflict in Ethiopia has caused huge levels of suffering. The UN estimates that more than 9 million people are in need food assistance in northern Ethiopia. The situation is most critical in Tigray where 5.2 million people require life-saving aid. Due to restrictions imposed the Government of Ethiopia and as a result of active conflict there has been negligible overland humanitarian access to Tigray since December 202 with less than 10% of required aid delivered since July last year. A critical shortage of food has seen partial food baskets distributed exacerbated by a shortage of fuel for relief operations.
The lack of access makes it very challenging to accurately assess the nutrition context in Tigray. The UN estimates that roughly 454,000 children are malnourished in the region of whom some 115,000 are severely malnourished. Roughly 400,000 people are assessed to be experiencing catastrophic conditions akin to famine.
We welcome the humanitarian ceasefire announced by the Ethiopian Government on 24 March and agreed by Tigrayan authorities on 25 March. It is crucial that this is translated immediately into the regular delivery of aid to Tigray by road following the movement of 21 trucks into Tigray – a third of which were UK funded – on 1 April. Since November 2020 the UK has allocated £15.6 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) for its food and nutrition operations in northern Ethiopia. This helped WFP reach more than 885,000 people with food assistance and approximately 219,000 people with nutrition support.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last raised the situation in Tigray in (1) the UN Security Council, (2) the UN General Assembly, and (3) the UN Human Rights Council; and what action, if any, is being taken as a result.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
At the UN Security Council on 28 January, the UK called on all parties to the conflict in Ethiopia to come to the negotiating table, and uphold their duty to protect civilians in accordance with their international legal obligations. Since the start of hostilities in November 2020 the UK has urged all sides to enable humanitarian agencies to deliver life-saving aid. In January this year the Minister for Africa travelled to Addis Ababa to meet the Ethiopian Government and argued robustly for immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray. The Minister for Africa met with Ethiopia's Minister for Health, who committed to increasing the number of humanitarian flights reaching Tigray. Since this meeting there has been an increase in humanitarian flights principally carrying medical aid: over 95 metric tons of aid reached Mekelle by air during the period 14 - 19 March, for example. While we welcome efforts to improve air access, there has been almost no humanitarian access to Tigray by road since December 2021. 500 trucks per week are needed to meet the level of need in the region, and as a result of the lack of road access at least 400,000 people in the region are experiencing famine conditions.
At a Special Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 17 December 2021, the UK supported and voted in favour of an EU-led resolution on Ethiopia which created an International Commission of Experts to investigate human rights abuses and violations committed during the conflict. The UK made a statement at the Interactive Dialogue on Tigray at the HRC on 4 March.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation in Tigray.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We are deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. The conflict is causing appalling suffering to the civilian population, with over 400,000 people in Tigray now living in famine-like conditions and almost 30 million in need of urgent humanitarian assistance across the country. The humanitarian response in Tigray is now at standstill owing to the de facto blockade of the region imposed by the Government of Ethiopia since July 2021 and also due to ongoing military action by Tigrayan Defence Forces along the Tigray-Afar border.
We are working with our international partners and humanitarian agencies so that in the event that access is granted or when there is an easing of the blockade relief can be delivered to Tigray as quickly as possible. UK funding to the crisis in the north has included support to help strengthen humanitarian logistics, to improve the security of the response and to augment civil-military coordination. All parties to the conflict in the north must agree a ceasefire and allow aid to reach people in need.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Ethiopia is the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. From north to south, 30 million people across the country require life-saving aid, including five million displaced persons and tens of millions of people affected by conflict and drought.
Only one aid truck has been able to enter the Tigray region since December, where four hundred thousand people are experiencing famine conditions. 500 trucks a week are needed
The UK has provided over £80 million pounds to the response since November 2020, making us one of the largest donors.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to take steps at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council to press for greater human rights protections and accountability in (a) Ethiopia and (b) Sudan; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The protection of all civilians needs to be prioritised, human rights respected and those responsible for human rights abuses and violations held to account. At a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on 17 December 2021, we supported and voted in favour of an EU-led resolution on Ethiopia which created an International Commission of Experts. This included a mandate to investigate allegations of violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law committed in Ethiopia, by all parties to the conflict.
We continue to call for justice and accountability for the victims of human rights abuses and violations, including through the International Commission of Experts and the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce set up by the Ethiopian Government. The 49th HRC Session will also hear the initial findings of the UN Expert on Human Rights in Sudan, Adama Dieng, who was mandated to report on the situation in Sudan since the coup, following UK leadership to secure an HRC resolution on Sudan in November 2021. As part of these discussions we will continue to call for accountability for violations and abuses and maintain pressure on the Sudanese military to protect human rights. We will also continue to engage fully in the ongoing UN-facilitated talks to reach a solution that leads to the restoration of civilian-led government, and meet the demands of the people of Sudan for freedom, peace and justice.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Northern Ethiopia Humanitarian Update Situation Report, published by UN OCHA on 17 February 2022, what recent steps she has taken to enable humanitarian partners in the Tigray region of Ethiopia to access fuel to enable delivery of supplies across the region.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The situation report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) dated 17 February 2022 makes clear the critical shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in Tigray and consequently how relief operations across the region have come to a standstill.
Since the start of the conflict in early November 2021 the UK has been consistent in calling for unfettered humanitarian access so that life-saving supplies as well as fuel can be delivered. On my visit to Addis Ababa on 20 January 2022 I discussed the clear need for an urgent improvement in humanitarian access with the Government of Ethiopia, including in my meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. All parties to the conflict must facilitate free and unrestricted access for humanitarian goods and personnel in-line with international humanitarian law.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa following the severe recent droughts.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. The increasing frequency and severity of droughts across the region is placing millions of people under enormous strain. The UN assesses that ongoing drought will impact 14 million people in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya - many of whom are already facing severe water shortages and worrying levels of food insecurity. In parts of Kenya and Somalia, February harvests may be 70% below average. While 90% of Somalia's districts have been affected, rainfall levels in some is 70% below 40 year averages. Throughout the region, the UN estimates that 5.5 million children will likely experience acute malnutrition, and a further 1.6 million likely to suffer severe acute malnutrition which could have lifelong implications.
On 17 January, I announced a £17 million package of emergency humanitarian assistance to address critical needs in Ethiopia (£5 million), South Sudan (£3 million), Somalia (£8 million) and Kenya (£1 million). This support will address the impact of drought in the Horn of Africa, and flooding in South Sudan. On 6 February, the UK's Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs announced an additional £5.5 million of support for Somalia.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the UK has a leadership role in tackling humanitarian situations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) other countries.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to address the situation, working with the UN Security Council, the G20, the G7 and countries in the region. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers have all been working extensively with world leaders. In August, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would double its assistance for Afghanistan to £286 million this financial year, and we have now disbursed over £176 million. UK aid will support over 6.1 million people in Afghanistan and the region, providing emergency food, healthcare, shelter, water and protection.
The UK will co-host a high-level pledging summit with the UN next month to support the response to the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
In 2021, the UK brokered the first-ever G7 Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact to tackle this challenge, securing £5 billion in humanitarian assistance and resilience strengthening, helping to address people's immediate food insecurity in the 42 countries one-step from famine. The UK has provided more than £80 million to respond to the crisis in northern Ethiopia, making us one of the largest bilateral donors to the conflict. Yemen remains one of the world's largest humanitarian crisis and aid operations. The UK will spend £87 million in aid to Yemen over the course of this financial year, with the UK contributing over £1 billion since the conflict began.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK aid is able pass into Ethiopia and the Tigray State during the current conflict.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. The humanitarian response in Tigray is now at standstill owing to the de facto blockade of the region imposed by the Government of Ethiopia since July 2021 and also due to recent military action by Tigrayan Defence Forces along the Tigray-Afar border. We are working with our international partners and humanitarian agencies so that in the event that access is granted or when there is an easing of the blockade relief can be delivered to Tigray as quickly as possible. UK funding to the crisis in the north has included support to help strengthen humanitarian logistics, to improve the security of the response and to augment civil-military coordination. The UK's assistance has helped relief agencies to deliver some aid in a highly insecure and complex operating context. In addition to Tigray the UK's support is also benefitting communities in Afar and Amhara regions directly impacted by the conflict.
The conflict is causing appalling suffering to the civilian population, with over 400,000 people in Tigray now living in famine-like conditions and over 25 million in need of urgent humanitarian assistance across the country. All parties to the conflict in the north must agree a ceasefire and allow aid to reach people in need. On 20 January, I met with Prime Minister Abiy and also spoke to State Minister Redwan, stressing the need for rapid and sustained humanitarian access and to lift the blockade on aid to northern Ethiopia. I also met UN Regional Coordinator Daniel Endres to discuss the humanitarian situation. We have been clear at the United Nations Security Council that all parties to the conflict must come to the negotiating table, and uphold their duty to protect civilians, in accordance with their international legal obligations.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, with regard to the Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability: Guidance Note, published in June 2017, when an assessment on Ethiopia was last conducted; and what is their assessment of the situation in Ethiopia, with particular reference to the mistreatment of the ethnic Tigrayan people.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
HMG undertakes regular contextual analysis of the changing situation in Ethiopia, including of the drivers of conflict and the changing political settlement. This analysis, undertaken routinely by our own staff and by a broad range of external experts informs our policy and programmatic approaches.
We are deeply concerned by the growing humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia. The humanitarian response in Tigray is now at standstill owing to the de facto blockade of the region imposed by the Government of Ethiopia since July 2021 and also due to recent military action by Tigrinyan defence forces along the Tigray-Afar border disrupting a potential buffer zone to transfer humanitarian deliveries. The Minister for Africa raised our concerns about humanitarian access and ethnically targeted arrests with Minister Redwan in Addis Ababa on 20 January. It is vital that both sides put down their arms and come to the negotiating table. The protection of all civilians needs to be prioritised, human rights respected and those responsible for human rights abuses and violations held to account.