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, what steps she is taking to ensure the humanitarian response in conflict and drought-affected areas in (a) Ethiopia, (b) South Sudan, (c) Somalia and (d) Kenya includes (i) child protection and (ii) education services.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK is deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia and Kenya. On 17 January, I announced £17 million of UK emergency humanitarian support via the Crisis Reserve to address drought and food insecurity needs in Ethiopia (£5 million), South Sudan (£3 million), Somalia (£8 million) and Kenya (£1 million). I stated that catastrophic droughts and floods, combined with ongoing conflicts and poor governance in Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia, risk pushing hundreds of thousands of people into famine.
On 21 January I announced £14.5 million of new funding for the crisis in Ethiopia, of which £5 million is for health and education services for people affected by the conflict. As the conflict continues, children, especially girls, are at increased risk of gender-based violence, being coerced into marriage, and sexual exploitation and abuse.
The UK provides humanitarian assistance sufficient for an estimated 2 million people in South Sudan through the provision of life-saving services such as food, water, sanitation, health and nutrition. The HMG-supported South Sudan Humanitarian Fund has allocated $20 million to issues like flooding, including $1 million to World Health Organization (WHO) for flood response.
The UK supports child protection services in Somalia through partners such as UNICEF. In 2021, UK funding supported community based awareness raising for approximately 30,000 people, to address harmful social norms and strengthen the protective environment for children and women. In addition, UK-funded education projects are improving water supplies in schools and providing additional support to teachers and students. The UK-supported Global Partnership for Education has supported accelerated funding to be mobilised to finance the government's drought response in schools.
In Kenya, new UK support will deliver life-saving nutritional assistance to 26,000 children in those areas worst affected by drought.
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, what information her Department holds on the situation along the border between the Tigray and Afar regions of Ethiopia since 20 January 2022.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are aware of reports of attacks by Tigrayan forces on Abala, a town in Afar region near to the border with Tigray. The town of Abala is crucial to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Tigray.
400,000 people in Tigray are experiencing famine conditions, and no aid has reached the region by road since 14 December 2021 due to a de facto humanitarian blockade. This attack makes the delivery of humanitarian aid even more difficult.
On my visit to Addis Ababa on 20 January 2022 I discussed the clear need for a ceasefire and humanitarian access with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. On 25 January I called for the TPLF to stop fighting in Afar and prioritise civilians. We repeat our call for a ceasefire and we implore all parties to prioritise the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions the Government has had with the (a) African Union peace envoy and (b) US peace envoy on the conflict between the Ethiopian Government and Tigray.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I discussed Ethiopia on my visit to Kenya 17 to 18 January and met Prime Minister Abiy in Addis Ababa on 20 January when we discussed the conflict. Whilst in Addis, I also met new US envoy Satterfield. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through calls with my African counterparts, including from Kenya and the African Union (AU). We have spoken with a variety of international partners about the situation in Ethiopia, and have urged them to support a ceasefire and support the efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo to bring an end to the violence. I have also spoken to HR Obasanjo. The British Ambassador in Addis Ababa remains in touch with HR Obasanjo.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking towards the normalisation of relations between the Ethiopian Government and Tigray.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. On my recent visit to Ethiopia, I met Prime Minister Abiy on 20 January and discussed the UK's concern over conflict in the north but hope for lasting peace in Ethiopia. I also met Ethiopian State Minister Redwan and reiterated my message for peace.
The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through calls with my African counterparts, including from Kenya and the African Union (AU). We have spoken with a variety of international partners about the situation in Ethiopia, and have urged them to support a ceasefire and support the efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo to bring an end to the violence.
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, what steps she is taking to help support parties to the conflict in Ethiopia in establishing a (a) stable ceasefire and (b) path towards a negotiated peace following developments in the conflict since 21 December 2021.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I spoke to Ethiopian Minister of Justice Gedion on 6 December and pressed for an end to the fighting and for peace talks. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through calls with my African counterparts, including from Kenya and the African Union (AU). We have spoken with a variety of international partners about the situation in Ethiopia, and have urged them to support a ceasefire and support the efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo to bring an end to the violence.
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, what recent assessment she has made of the extent to which a continued flow of arms to (a) the Government of Ethiopia and (b) other parties to the current conflict in Ethiopia is a barrier to ceasefires and a negotiated peace; and what representations the Government has made to countries supplying arms that may potentially be used in that conflict.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I spoke to Ethiopian Minister of Justice Gedion on 6 December and pressed for an end to the fighting and for peace talks. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through recent calls with my African counterparts, including from Kenya and the African Union (AU). We have spoken with a variety of international partners about the situation in Ethiopia, and have urged them to support a ceasefire and support the efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo to bring an end to the violence.
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, what recent steps she has taken to support the African Union initiatives for ceasefires and negotiations between combatants in Ethiopia.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole. The UK is working to bring an end to the violence. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I spoke with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Redwan on 18 November, stressing the need for all parties to the conflict to engage in meaningful talks, lift the blockade on aid, and end the mobilisation of civilians and ethnically targeted arrests. I also spoke to Ethiopian Minister of Justice Gedion on 6 December and pressed for an end to the fighting and for peace talks. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through recent calls with my international counterparts, including Kenya and the African Union (AU). I spoke with the AU High Representative for the Horn of African Region, Olusegun Obasanjo on 4 November to discuss the situation and make clear our strong support, for his efforts to end the conflict. I also spoke with AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole, on 8 November and pressed him on the need for the AU to find a way forward.
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, what assessment she has made of the impact on the risk of (a) starvation and (b) malnourishment of the suspension of the distribution of World Food Programme aid in Kombolcha and Dessie towns following a deterioration in the local security situation; and what steps she is taking to enable secure humanitarian access in that area.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The conflict in Ethiopia has caused huge levels of suffering with the UN estimating 9.4 million people across the north of the country in need of food aid. Of this number, it is estimated that over 400,000 people in Tigray are experiencing famine-like conditions. Without free and unfettered access for relief agencies and a cessation of hostilities the situation will deteriorate and young children will bear the brunt.
The UK is working to bring an end to the violence and to facilitate humanitarian access. We remain very concerned about the security context including in Kombolcha and Dessie in Amhara. Armed violence poses both a threat to civilians as well as to humanitarian actors many of whom have suspended or reduced their operations owing to insecurity. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I spoke with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Redwan on 18 November and the Ethiopian Minister of Justice, Gedion, on 6 December. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through recent calls with my international counterparts, including Kenya and the African Union.
Asked by: Mark Hendrick (Labour (Co-op) - Preston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking to help tackle the escalating conflict in Ethiopia and the prospect of a humanitarian catastrophe in that country.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia and the implications it has for the country as a whole.
The UK is working to bring an end to the violence and to facilitate humanitarian access. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I spoke with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Redwan on 18 November, stressing the need for all parties to the conflict to engage in meaningful talks, lift the blockade on aid, and end the mobilisation of civilians and ethnically targeted arrests. I also spoke to Ethiopian Minister of Justice Gedion on 6 December and pressed for an end to the fighting and for peace talks. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through recent calls with my international counterparts, including Kenya and the African Union (AU). I spoke with the AU High Representative for the Horn of African Region, Olusegun Obasanjo on 4 November to discuss the situation and make clear our strong support, for his efforts to end the conflict. I also spoke with AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole, on 8 November and pressed him on the need for the AU to find a way forward.
UK officials have also travelled to Tigray on multiple occasions since November 2020 to promote mediation and humanitarian efforts. Overall, the UK has provided more than £76 million of funding to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, making the UK the second largest donor.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of the £29 million of humanitarian aid allocated to people affected by the conflict in northern Ethiopia, announced on 15 October 2021, has been given to aid agencies working in Tigray and neighbouring regions.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The majority of the £29 million of humanitarian funding announced on 15 October has been allocated to needy communities in Tigray and neighbouring Afar and Amhara.
£18.4 million has been allocated to humanitarian projects in Tigray and the neighbouring regions, including health supplies, nutrition, water and sanitation, and protection services. £9 million has been allocated to Ethiopia-wide humanitarian funding mechanisms (the International Committee of the Red Cross and Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund) which distribute resources according to where the greatest needs are. We expect the majority of those funds will also reach Northern Ethiopia given the significant needs due to the conflict. The remaining £1.6 million has been used to provide additional staff for humanitarian agencies scaling up in Northern Ethiopia, including Gender-Based Violence specialists, and improve data and analysis on the humanitarian situation.
Overall, the UK has provided more than £76 million of funding to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, making the UK the second largest donor.