§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution his Department is making to the monitoring of the ceasefire in southern Sudan. [175719]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Government have contributed over £460,000 to the Verification Monitoring Team (VMT), which is responsible for investigating and reporting on breaches of the Memorandum of Understanding on the cessation of hostilities in southern Sudan. We are currently considering a further, significant contribution. The Government have provided four members to staff to work for the VMT.
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§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will consult other members of the United Nations Security Council with a view to securing an emergency session of the Security Council to address the situation in Darfur, Sudan; [175720]
(2) what diplomatic measures his Department (a) has taken in the past month and (b) plans to take in relation to the situation in Darfur, Sudan. [175721]
§ Mr. MacShaneI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Mullin) to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Ladywood (Clare Short) on 25 May 2004,Official Report, columns 1571–72W).
Darfur was discussed at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26 April and 17 May, and the UN Security Council was briefed about the situation on 2 April and 7 May. Since then, our Permanent Representative to the UN in New York has been working closely with other Security Council members, notably the US, France and Germany, to ensure that the Security Council remains focused on the crisis. We will continue to consider with all partners what further we can do to alleviate the situation.
§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government supported the addition of Sudan to the UN's Human Rights Committee; and if he will make a statement. [175906]
§ Mr. MacShaneI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell) to the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Sir John Stanley) on 24 May 2004Official Report, columns 1363W—136W.
§ Ms KeebleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the attacks on civilians and displacement of communities in the Shilluk Kingdom in Sudan. [176063]
§ Mr. MacShaneWe are very concerned by reports of fighting in the Upper Nile region of Sudan, and, in particular that civilians have been targeted. Estimates suggest that between 70–80,000 people have now been displaced and non-governmental organisations in the area have reported that services in the town are becoming increasingly stretched. Though we understand that fighting has decreased since 3 May, the humanitarian situation is likely to deteriorate further with the onset of seasonal rains.
We are following the situation closely and are in contact with all parties in the area, including the Verification and Monitoring Team which is responsible for investigating and reporting on breaches of the cessation of hostilities. We raised the matter with the Sudanese Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 11 May.