Wendy Morton MP
Minister for Europe and Americas
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
The Lord Alton of Liverpool
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
September 2021
Dear Lord Alton,
Thank you for your follow-up correspondence of 7 September about Turkish operations in northern Iraq.
As you mention, reports of an attack on a hospital are deeply worrying and it is important that the full facts are established. We have repeatedly called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, and we are monitoring the situation closely.
On the situation in Sinjar, the UK welcomed last year’s Sinjar Agreement as a critical step to stabilise the region – it is vital that all groups cooperate with its implementation.
You also mentioned the Yazidi population of northern Syria.
The UK has contributed over £14 million since 2012 in support of Syrian and international efforts to gather evidence and assist victims of human rights abuses and violations, such as Yazidis. We are also responsible for drafting the Syria resolution at the UN Human Rights Council and we support the important work of the independent UN Commission of Inquiry, which reports on crimes committed in Syria.
In 2016, we co-sponsored the UNGA resolution that established the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM). The IIIM plays an essential role in recording and compiling evidence to strengthen accountability in Syria. The UK has contributed £975,000 to the IIIM since its establishment.
Yours sincerely,
Wendy Morton MP
Minister for Europe and Americas
