§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the attack on a food aid distribution site in the village of Bien, Western Upper Nile region of Southern Sudan, on the distribution of food aid in that region. [38695]
§ Hilary BennThe attack should not affect distribution of food aid in the region. The parties to the conflict in Sudan have agreed that they will not target humanitarian operations and they are, in any case, obliged under the Geneva Conventions not to target civilians. Something clearly went wrong in Bien on 20 February, and we have demanded an explanation from the Government of Sudan. In the meantime we expect that the World Food Programme will take extra care not to attempt to distribute food near areas where fighting is ongoing.