§ 14. Mr. CanavanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about Government policy on aid to Sudan. [46878]
§ Clare ShortThe civil war is the main cause of continuing humanitarian crises in Sudan. Our policy is to promote the peace efforts sponsored by Sudan's neighbours under the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). We strongly supported the meeting of the IGAD Partners Forum for Sudan which was held in The Hague on 17/18 June. The Forum agreed to send a delegation to Nairobi and Khartoum to try and broker a short cease-fire in the areas most affected by the current crisis in Southern Sudan so that food and seeds can reach all severely affected people.
§ 17. Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her assessment of the present level of food shortage in Sudan; and what policies she is adopting in the light of that assessment. [46882]
§ Clare ShortThe United Nations World Food Programme now estimates that nearly 10,000 tonnes per month of food will need to be delivered between July and September to support 1.2 million vulnerable people in southern Sudan, including 700,000 in the Bahr El Ghazal region. £16 million of the £25 million that I have approved since February for humanitarian assistance to Sudan has been allocated to the WFP to help it meet these targets. I stand ready to approve further sums as new needs emerge. We are also currently working to try to secure a temporary truce so that larger amounts of food can be provided to those in need.