§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the need to improve access for humanitarian aid in Sudan. [50162]
§ Clare ShortThe civil war in Sudan is preventing food reaching many starving people. Access to those in need is vital to the relief operation. I have had recent discussions with the Executive Directors of the World Food 23W Programme and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on this question. While the position has improved, we need to maintain pressure on the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army to ensure that enough access is provided to allow relief agencies to reach all vulnerable people. My hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Nairobi and Khartoum on 14–16 July to help secure this access.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with(a) non-governmental organisations and (b) aid agencies in the past three weeks over the crisis in Sudan. [50164]
§ Clare ShortI met the Directors of Action Aid, Christian Aid, the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Save the Children Fund (SCF) and Oxfam on 23 June and the Executive Director of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on 9 July. My officials maintain frequent contact with all NGOs and agencies helping to alleviate the crisis in Sudan and regularly update me on the situation.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the current need for further humanitarian aid for Sudan. [50163]
§ Clare ShortOn 23 June, the World Food Programme increased its assessment of need and estimated that 10,573 tonnes of food need to be delivered each month until the end of October to stabilise the situation in the south. But, as more access becomes possible, new needs will emerge and we expect this figure to be revised.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support is being provided to(a) the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Society and (b) other agencies working in the Nuba region of Sudan to overcome food shortages; and if she will make a statement. [49693]
§ Clare ShortWe have received no requests from the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Society for support. Access to parts of the Nuba region by the United Nations continues to be denied by the Government of Sudan. We, along with other Governments and the United Nations, are pressing the Sudanese Government to agree access to all areas. We provide financial support to the World Food Programme and the UNICEF Nutrition Programme in Sudan. These programmes work to overcome food shortages throughout the whole of Sudan, including those parts of the Nuba region to which they have access.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contacts have been established with refugee Sudanese organisations based in the United Kingdom with particular reference to the Nubian International Relief and Development Council; what discussions have been held regarding the current political and economic situation in that country; and if she will make a statement. [49690]
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§ Clare ShortOfficials have had discussions with United Kingdom-based refugee Sudanese organisations but the Nubian International Relief and Development Council has not approached the Department for International Development (DFID). I have had discussions with my Foreign and Commonwealth colleagues on the political and economic situation and my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), the Minister for State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has been involved in discussions within the framework of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development SudanPartners Forum. He is in Nairobi tomorrow for discussions with the Government of Kenya and the Sudan People's Liberation Army and will be travelling on to Khartoum for talks with the Government of Sudan on 15/16 July.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support is being provided to Operation Lifeline Sudan, organised by the UN; what discussions have taken place with the Government of Sudan regarding access to the areas affected by famine; and if she will make a statement. [49692]
§ Clare ShortWe have committed £24 million in support of Operation Lifeline Sudan activities since February. We have pressed the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army at all levels in Khartoum, Nairobi and London to allow full access to all vulnerable people. During our Presidency of the European Union, we led discussions on Sudan in the General Affairs Council and the Development Council which emphasised the need for all member states to make similar representations.