§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they have made to the current emergency in the Upper Nile in southern Sudan; how many people have died or are displaced as a result of fighting around Malakal; and what effect this will have on the overall peace agreement in the south. [HL3886]
§ Baroness AmosDfID is very concerned by reports that civilians have been targeted and that thousands of people have been displaced in the Upper Nile region of southern Sudan. DfID is following the situation closely and we are in contact with all parties in the area, including the verification and monitoring team (VMT), which is reponsible for investigating and reporting on breaches of the cessation of hostilities.
DfID raised the matter with the Sudanese Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 11 May and EU Heads of Mission, including our ambassador in 98WA Khartoum, visited on 27 May. Over £270,000 has been provided to non-governmental organisations to provide for the estimated 48,000 displaced persons in the region.
Unfortunately at this time there is no information regarding the number of conflict-related deaths. DfID is encouraging all parties to respect the terms of the ceasefire and are calling on the parties to continue to work together so that a comprehensive peace agreement can be signed in the next few months. Notably in the south, DfID is pressing for dialogue between the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), other southern groups and the governmnent, in preparation for the broad-based regional government and institutions envisaged in the Machakos Protocol.