§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas in Sudan about which the Overseas Development Administration is concerned for humanitarian reasons, are currently out of reach to international aid agencies because of blocking action by the Government in Khartoum.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Government of Sudan has refused permission for the United Nations Operation Lifeline Sudan, OLS, to fly relief assistance into nine Sudan People's Liberation Army, SPLA-held locations in south Sudan in February. These are Boma, Kajo-Keji, Kaya, Maban, Mundri, Maridi, Nimule, Pariang and Thiet. Fighting around Kapoeta is also restricting surface access.
Access to Government-held areas in the south is subject to permit. Aid agencies experience frequent unexplained delays and refusals by the Government in the issuing of permits. OLS plans to increase areas accessible to aid by rail via Wau and by barge via the Nile have been halted by recent military activity.
Access is still denied to the Nuba mountains, except the towns of Dilling and Kadugli.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the latest refugee movements from Sudan.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThere are now about 176,000 registered southern Sudanese refugees in Uganda, including 64,000 in the main influx area of Koboko. About 100 new refugees are currently arriving each day. It is understood from local representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees in Uganda that substantial numbers are walking south towards the border and will cross into Uganda in the next couple of months.
We are watching these developments with concern and have already provided more than £500,000 worth of assistance to non-governmental organisations working in the affected area.