§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether breaches of the ceasefire in the Shilluk area of the Upper Nile, by parties including the Government of Sudan, have now ceased; and whether access to this area has been restored for humanitarian agencies and supplies. [HL3742]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanInsecurity persists in the Shilluk area of the Upper Nile and problems with access continue, complicated by the fact that aid agencies need to approach from both Government of Sudan-held, and Sudan People's Liberation Movement-held territory. Our latest information suggests that 70,000–80,000 are internally displaced. The vast majority of these people seem to be being housed with host families. The Department for International Development has committed over £600,000 to support non-governmental organisations operating public health programmes and distributing non-food items in the area.