Tigray : U.K. says is “appalled at the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence and the destruction of medical facilities” and calls on “all parties to take all necessary steps to prlovide unfettered and sustained humanitarian access to northern Ethiopia.”

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL7480):

Question:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on victims of conflict-related sexual violence of (1) the destruction of medical clinics, and (2) reduced medical equipment and supplies, as a result of the war in Tigray. (HL7480) 

Tabled on: 30 March 2022

This question was grouped with the following question(s) for answer:

1. To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing in (1) Tigray, and (2) Ethiopia more generally, to victims of conflict-related sexual violence, particularly in relation to medical equipment and supplies. (HL7479) 
   Tabled on: 30 March 2022 

Answer:
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: 

We are appalled at the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence and the destruction of medical facilities in northern Ethiopia, which is clearly impacting the availability and accessibility of support for survivors.

The UK has been funding the delivery of lifesaving health and social services including reproductive health kits and supplies and clinical management to prevent HIV transmission, sexually transmitted infections and treat injuries and wounds caused by sexual assault. We are working through partners to remove barriers to medical care and psychosocial support for refugees in Addis Ababa that have been targeted with sexual violence. UK programmes are also building the capacity of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s ability to investigate conflict-related sexual violence and ensure that appropriate referrals to health and social services are made.

Despite the recent overland humanitarian convoy that reached Mekelle on 1 April, the first in nearly four months, there has been negligible humanitarian access to Tigray since July last year. The UK welcomes the recent humanitarian truce, but urges all parties to take all necessary steps to prlovide unfettered and sustained humanitarian access to northern Ethiopia.

Date and time of answer: 12 Apr 2022 at 13:27.