Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made through the United Nations Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict in tackling the use of child soldiers in conflict zones.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK is an active permanent member of the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to violations committed against children in conflict. These violations include: the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, killing and maiming of children, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian access to children in conflict. The Working Group focuses on responding to the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC which lists governments and armed groups for committing grave violations against children. As a member of the group, the UK applies diplomatic pressure to listed parties to enter into concrete UN action plans to verify and release any children associated with armed groups and forces, to prevent re-recruitment and ensure the provision of appropriate reintegration and rehabilitation assistance. In recent years, we have negotiated strong calls to action for parties to conflict in Syria, Myanmar, South Sudan, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what lessons his Department has learned from UK (a) diplomatic and (b) military involvement in the removal of Colonel Gaddafi from power in Libya in 2011; what assessment his Department has made of the compliance of that involvement with the Resolution of the House of 21 March 2011 on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 establishing a no-fly zone to protect Benghazi; and if he will make it his policy not to endorse no-fly zones to facilitate UK military intervention in Syria in support of Islamist fighting groups.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK participated in the international military action in Libya in 2011 in order to protect Libyans against Colonel Qadhafi's regime, which was intent on violently suppressing their uprising. The Qadhafi regime subsequently fell, and since then we have been working to support a political transition in Libya. The UK supports UN-led efforts as the best way of securing an end to the conflict and delivering the stability and security that all Libyans deserve. In Syria, the UK does not believe that a no-fly zone is currently a feasible option.
Asked by: Tom Tugendhat (Conservative - Tonbridge and Malling)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support the introduction of an observed ceasefire and (b) increase aid to displaced adults and children in the Idlib enclave, Syria.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are deeply concerned about the situation in Idlib, North West Syria, as a result of the ongoing offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia. We are calling on all parties to adhere to previously agreed ceasefires and abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly UN Security Council resolution 2254, which calls for a nationwide ceasefire as part of a political process to end the conflict. We have repeatedly raised the issue at the UN Security Council, and called an emergency session on Idlib on 6 February.
In financial year 2019/20, the Department for International Development allocated £118 million to projects implemented by organisations delivering aid cross-border primarily into North West Syria, including Idlib. This support has helped to provide hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people with food, clean water, shelter and healthcare, including mental health support. UK aid is helping to support protection of civilians in Idlib, including an early warning system to alert civilians of airstrikes and support to emergency search and rescue teams.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the situation in Northern Syria.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We are closely following developments in north-west Syria and are deeply concerned about the ongoing offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia which has displaced over 800,000 civilians. We have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, including at the UN Security Council on 14 February, and for all parties to abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law. The former Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa reaffirmed our support for Turkish diplomatic efforts to seek a renewed ceasefire during a visit to Turkey on 5-6 February.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on Kurdish representatives participating in future multi-party discussions on the long-term future of Syria.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The United Kingdom believes an inclusive UN-led political process, with participation from all major political and ethnic groups in Syria including the Kurds, is the best means to achieve a lasting political settlement to the Syrian conflict on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Kurdish community in relation to the situation in Northern Syria.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have regular contact with representatives from different Kurdish political groups about the situation in Syria, including northern Syria.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have on the current humanitarian situation in Idlib province.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
We are gravely concerned about escalating Syrian Regime and Russian military action and its humanitarian impact in Idlib. As of 6 February, the UN reports that 586,000 people have been displaced since 1 December 2019, and many more are at risk of imminent further displacement. This financial year DFID has already allocated £103 million to organisations delivering aid cross border from Turkey primarily into North West Syria, including Idlib. This has helped to provide hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people with food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare including psychosocial support.
Given the rapidly deteriorating conditions in North West Syria, we have put options in place to increase our funding further to address the pressing needs of those displaced by the conflict. We have provided funding to response partners including the UN to preposition essential supplies to support innocent families and civilians displaced by conflict and we are supporting all our partners to respond to this humanitarian crisis. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa visited Turkey on 5-6 February and discussed the crisis in North West Syria with UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs, as well as with Turkish authorities. DFID partners on the ground are working tirelessly to provide aid to those affected by the military offensive.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to end (a) the aerial bombardment of and (b) other military hostilities towards civilians in Idlib, Northern Syria by the (i) Russian and (ii) Syrian Government.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We are deeply concerned about the situation in Idlib, north-west Syria, as a result of the ongoing offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia. We are calling on all parties to adhere to previously agreed ceasefires and abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly UNSCR 2254, which calls for a nationwide ceasefire as part of a political process to end the conflict.
We have repeatedly raised the issue at the UN Security Council and called an emergency session on Idlib on 6 February. The Prime Minister discussed the situation in Idlib with President Erdogan, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel at their meeting on 3 December 2019. I discussed Idlib with Turkish counterparts during a visit to Turkey on 5-6 February and with Special Envoys of the Small Group on Syria (comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States) on 28 January. Officials have also raised our concerns with Russian counterparts. We have repeatedly condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. We strongly supported the UN Secretary General's establishment of a Board of Inquiry to investigate such attacks and have called for the results of this inquiry to be made public when released.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to ensure that Syria complies with UN Security Council resolutions in relation to stopping military attacks in Syria.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We are deeply concerned about the situation in Idlib, north-west Syria, as a result of the ongoing offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia. We are calling on all parties to adhere to previously agreed ceasefires and abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly UNSCR 2254, which calls for a nationwide ceasefire as part of a political process to end the conflict.
We have repeatedly raised the issue at the UN Security Council and called an emergency session on Idlib on 6 February. The Prime Minister discussed the situation in Idlib with President Erdogan, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel at their meeting on 3 December 2019. I discussed Idlib with Turkish counterparts during a visit to Turkey on 5-6 February and with Special Envoys of the Small Group on Syria (comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States) on 28 January. Officials have also raised our concerns with Russian counterparts. We have repeatedly condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. We strongly supported the UN Secretary General's establishment of a Board of Inquiry to investigate such attacks and have called for the results of this inquiry to be made public when released.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) Russian and (b) Syrian military forces stop targeting (a) medical facilities, (b) schools and (c) other civilian facilities.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
We are deeply concerned about the situation in Idlib, north-west Syria, as a result of the ongoing offensive by the Syrian regime and Russia. We are calling on all parties to adhere to previously agreed ceasefires and abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, particularly UNSCR 2254, which calls for a nationwide ceasefire as part of a political process to end the conflict.
We have repeatedly raised the issue at the UN Security Council and called an emergency session on Idlib on 6 February. The Prime Minister discussed the situation in Idlib with President Erdogan, President Macron and Chancellor Merkel at their meeting on 3 December 2019. I discussed Idlib with Turkish counterparts during a visit to Turkey on 5-6 February and with Special Envoys of the Small Group on Syria (comprising Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the United States) on 28 January. Officials have also raised our concerns with Russian counterparts. We have repeatedly condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities. We strongly supported the UN Secretary General's establishment of a Board of Inquiry to investigate such attacks and have called for the results of this inquiry to be made public when released.