Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL499):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that more than 6 million people, half of them children, have been forcibly displaced in Sudan; and that Sudan now represents the biggest displacement crisis globally. (HL499)
Tabled on: 22 November 2023
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
The UK condemns the ongoing violence in Sudan, and the consequent humanitarian impacts on people displaced both inside the country and those forced to flee to neighbouring countries. We commend those countries who have kept their borders open. In May, the Minister for Development and Africa announced that the UK would provide £21.7 million in humanitarian aid for people in need in Sudan. This followed an earlier announcement of £5 million to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and returnees fleeing to South Sudan and Chad. We continue to call on both sides of the conflict to abide by their responsibilities under International Law, protect civilians and to grant immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, so that aid can reach those who need it, including those who have been displaced.
Date and time of answer: 06 Dec 2023 at 17:45.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL498):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cholera outbreak reported by the United Nations as affecting 27 localities across seven states with 78 associated deaths, with more than 3 million people estimated to be at risk by the end of the year. (HL498)
Tabled on: 22 November 2023
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan continues to grapple with mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. The health system has been overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies, equipment, health workers and operational funds. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Sudan with cholera treatments (including antibiotics, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids and rapid diagnostic tests), in addition to providing direct support to cholera isolation centres. The UK is funding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health activities in Sudan via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With support from WHO and health partners, the Ministry of Health is coordinating efforts (in areas of the country that are still accessible) to scale up access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as ensuring affected and at-risk communities are aware of transmission risks and proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks and prevent further spread of the outbreak. We are supporting the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (WHO), and will deploy a Senior Epidemiologist to assist with coordination efforts to bolster the national response. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Date and time of answer: 06 Dec 2023 at 17:36.
