§ 34. Mr. SavidgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the crisis in the Sudan. [40527]
§ Mr. FatchettThe Civil war in Sudan has displaced large segments of the population in the South, creating a serious humanitarian problem. Bahr El Ghazal is the area where the current crisis is most acute. We are deeply concerned at this unfolding human tragedy and we have been active in trying to find solutions. We and our EU partners are of the view that a political settlement is essential to bring to an end the suffering of the Sudanese people. As Presidency, we issued an EU Declaration on 1 May which voiced European concerns and called for an immediate cease-fire. At UK instigation, Sudan was discussed at the UN Security Council on 5 May and a press statement was made by the President expressing the UN's concerns. We have lobbied countries in the region to bring pressure to bear on all parties in the civil war to reach a comprehensive negotiated settlement at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace talks held in Nairobi on 2 to 5 May.