Sudan (Hansard, 12 July 1994)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
My Lords, our prime concerns remain the civil war, the delivery of humanitarian relief supplies and human rights abuses. We shall continue to do whatever we can to help. In particular, we are supporting the peace initiative launched by the IGADD countries which has led to talks between the Government of Sudan and the SPLA factions in Nairobi.

§ Baroness Cox
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that sympathetic Answer. Is she aware that in the south, despite massive humanitarian aid pouring in to Sudan, many tens of thousands of people are still dying of hunger and disease and that many areas, such as parts of the Nuba mountains, are entirely cut off from any aid as a result of the policies of the government in Khartoum? Does my noble friend agree, therefore, that the most urgent priority is to prevail upon that government in Khartoum to stop their military offensives against the people of the south and, if necessary, to raise these matters with the UN Security Council with a view to imposing arms and oil embargoes and air protection zones to protect civilians from continuing air attacks?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I share my noble friend's dismay at the number of people dying from hunger and disease. I agree that all nations must prevail upon the government in Khartoum to cease their military action. But it is also critical that the UN plan of action, for which the United Kingdom was the initiator, is allowed to provide humanitarian assistance in all parts of Sudan. There must be active measures to counter looting and a special role for the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs as relief co-ordinator. We are working to achieve that. I hope that one good sign on 1st July, with a government of Sudan unified commercially-linked exchange rate, may help towards these ends.

§ Lord Avebury
My Lords, do the Government agree that in the draft Declaration of Principles, which was agreed at the IGADD meeting on 20th May 1994, the parties committed themselves to the proposition that a military solution to the conflict would not lead to a stable or lasting peace? In view of the fact that the government have continued to mount their military offences in the south, in some cases cutting off the humanitarian corridors which until recently allowed aid 1640 to be delivered to the starving people in those regions, does the Minister believe that additional pressure is required to be put on the government of Sudan? In particular, will she consider with our partners in the European Union the possibility of an arms embargo and in the meantime methods of persuading China and Iran, which are the principal arms suppliers and are fuelling this conflict, to stop the delivery of weapons?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, this is a very complicated problem. It is not possible just to impose an arms or oil embargo. We have not ruled out the option of action at the Security Council. We must have unanimity in the Security Council because a failed resolution would only be to Khartoum's benefit. I assure the noble Lord that we are doing all that we can to bring about the kind of outcome that he wishes.

§ Lord Renton
My Lords, bearing in mind that the Sudan used to be an Anglo-Egyptian responsibility, will my noble friend say what co-operation we are now receiving from the Egyptian Government?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, through-out we have received excellent co-operation from the Egyptian Government, but it would be fair to say that the Egyptians are listened to less in Khartoum than are Members of the European Union.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, will the Minister say anything specifically about the persecution of Christians in the Sudan and in particular about the horrific reports of the crucifying of Christians?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, we are deeply concerned about the persistent reports of grave human rights abuses, including those mentioned by the noble Lord. While we make it clear all the time to the Sudanese Government that those systematic abuses must cease, I believe that it is only through the United Nations Special Rapporteur that shall we gain any real progress.

§ Baroness Strange
My Lords, is my noble friend the Minister aware that many Sudanese still regard Britain as their protector and look up to her and that they love us? Could we not therefore give them a higher moral support internationally?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I am very well aware that we give the Sudanese high moral support. We have also given them more than £20 million worth of aid help since January. But love will not cure this problem.

Baroness Blacks tone
My Lords, will the Minister put a little more flesh on her Answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Cox, with reference to the IGADD talks which I understand will begin next week, on 18th July? What practical support are the UK Government, and, indeed, our partners in the European Union, giving to those talks? What is the current level of UK emergency aid to the people of southern Sudan, and does she consider the level of aid to be adequate in the circumstances?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I have just said that bilateral aid commitments exceeded £20 million in the first six months of the year. We shall give aid provided that we can get it to the people who desperately need it. With our European Union partners, we have provided practical support for the IGADD secretariat in Nairobi, and we shall give it all the political assistance that we can to help it to complete its task.