House of Commons · Urgent Question
30 October 2025 · 22 other contributors
Opened by Anneliese Dodds Lab/Co-op Oxford East
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Anneliese Dodds raised concerns about sudan protection of civilians 2025-10-30 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm actions to promote the protection of civilians, following a reported massacre at El Fasher’s Saudi maternity hospital? The issue is urgent due to reports of mass atrocities and forced displacement in Sudan.
Question
What specific conversations have the Foreign Secretary and Ministers had with their counterparts, particularly in Quad countries, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE on civilian protection? What will the UK press for at the Security Council session?
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that they are regularly engaging with partners in the Quad and other countries to urge restraint from all parties involved. At the Security Council session, the UK will push for an immediate end to violence and respect for international humanitarian law.
Question
What is the Government’s assessment of claims that El Fasher appears at the start of a systematic process of ethnic cleansing through forced displacement and summary execution? What are they doing to prevent this happening in Tawila?
Minister reply
The Minister stated that evidence is being carefully reviewed, and efforts are ongoing to support accountability mechanisms. They also mentioned that £23 million has been mobilised for humanitarian aid and the situation in Tawila will be closely monitored.
Question
What concrete steps are planned next? Will there be further targeted sanctions and diplomatic action to deter those sustaining the conflict?
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed ongoing engagement with Quad members and other partners, emphasising the importance of adhering to international law. Sanctions matters remain under review.
Question
What has materialised from the UK’s hosted international humanitarian conference on Sudan? What progress has been made since pledges were announced?
Minister reply
The Minister provided updates on ongoing efforts to support accountability mechanisms and ensure that aid reaches those in need, though specific details on the efficacy of recent funding disbursements were not elaborated.
Question
What assurances can the Minister give that the UK is acting to alleviate this humanitarian disaster, and can he assure the House that there is no risk of UK-manufactured arms being used by the RSF?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady rightly raises horrific reports on sexual violence in Sudan. We are providing specific support through our women’s integrated sexual health programme and diplomatic action to condemn parties’ disregard for international law. On UK weapons, we have one of the tightest arms export control regimes in the world and constantly review licences.
Question
Is the Minister equally defeatist about the UK’s role as a penholder at the UN, or will the UK use its position today to press for a Sudan-wide arms embargo? Will the Minister today ban arms sales to the UAE until it is confirmed that the UAE is not using British weapons to arm the RSF?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman raises important issues. We are clear that anybody responsible must be held accountable, and we will do so through our role at the United Nations and in supporting accountability for atrocities committed. On arms exports, we have one of the most robust regimes in the world and constantly review licences.
Question
Do the Government consider reports that UK military equipment exported to the UAE has been found on the battlefield credible? Has the UAE been challenged on this? Are relevant export licences under review?
Minister reply
We take allegations of UK-made equipment being transferred in breach of arms embargo very seriously. The regime is robust, and we constantly assess licences for risk of diversion.
Question
Will the Minister set out more fully what discussions there have been with the UAE? The Government gave a commitment to be proactive during this Parliament, and I hope that it will be honoured. Are we using our influence over the UAE to ensure its influence over the RSF?
Minister reply
We are actively engaged on this matter every day. We welcome efforts of the US-led Quad in seeking resolution to conflict but remain in close contact with all relevant stakeholders and parties.
Question
What might UK citizens expect for their family and friends in the region, and what kind of support is this country providing to reach out to them?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend speaks powerfully on behalf of her constituents. There are extremely challenging circumstances on the ground but we will get back to her on consular access.
Question
Can the Minister explain what is the attitude of other states in the region towards this conflict? Is there any prospect that they could unite and possibly make some form of physical intervention?
Minister reply
Obviously, it is not for me to speak to individual policies but regrettably a consensus has not been possible. We push for such consensus as penholder.
Question
Can the Minister tell us what we are doing to get humanitarian aid to the millions who desperately need it, especially children?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and my noble Friend have made clear that we will continue playing a key role. We have committed £120 million this year, making us third-largest donor, delivering aid to more than 650,000 people.
Question
The events in Sudan are inexplicably evil. The brutal murder of people at a hospital in recent days and over many months are frankly crimes against humanity, and I add my voice to urging the Minister to engage as much as he can with the Sudanese diaspora not just in Newcastle-under-Lyme, but up and down the country. Can the Minister tell me what engagement has taken place with the African Union in recent days to ensure that the power of that body is exercised as quickly as possible?
Minister reply
We engage across a whole range of diplomatic relations—our special representative and others do so, and we do so in the United Nations. I am happy to come back to my hon. Friend specifically on what contact we have had with African Union representatives in recent days.
Question
There are many displaced people in other countries in the region as a consequence of the violence in Sudan. What additional support are the UK Government giving to those countries to support those displaced people?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to talk about displaced people—my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford East (Anneliese Dodds) mentioned Tawila. I can assure him that our humanitarian aid is targeted to have the biggest impact, and we look very closely at the situation of displaced people, particularly those who have also experienced atrocities, and especially women and girls who may have experienced sexual violence. That will remain at the top of our agenda.
Question
The International Criminal Court is investigating some reports of atrocities in Sudan. Does the Minister feel that that investigation should extend to those who knowingly export weapons into the conflict?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to raise the issue of accountability. I have already referred to our support for the work of the International Criminal Court and, indeed, wider investigations into allegations of atrocities—we work to support non-governmental organisations and others. I must also highlight the work of the media in this space, particularly the investigations of the BBC and other media organisations. As I have said, we keep our export licences under close review, and we take allegations very seriously.
Question
Given that the UK kept approving arms sales to the UAE even when risks were staring it in the face, does the Minister agree that arms export licensing is broken, and that we need to immediately re-establish a stand-alone Committee on arms export controls?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman knows how seriously I take these issues, not least as a former member of that Committee. Obviously, though, it is for this House to determine its Committees, not me. I can assure him that we have one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. All licences are assessed for the risk of diversion, and we regularly prevent exports that might be diverted to an undesirable end user.
Question
With a massacre at a hospital where mums, dads and little babies should be safe and helped, can the Minister please reassure me that the UK is doing everything possible to ensure that international criminal law is enforced, and that its application and enforcement are improved?
Minister reply
I can assure my hon. Friend of that. We support not only the work of the ICC, but those media organisations investigating these claims. I mentioned the UN fact-finding mission and the support we provide to specific NGOs on this matter. All parties must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, and perpetrators of crimes must be held accountable.
Question
The massacre at the El Fasher hospital by the RSF is utterly barbaric. What has happened to our duty to protect civilians from such atrocities? When was the last time that the Government carried out a joint analysis of conflict and stability in relation to Sudan?
Minister reply
As I have said, we keep all these matters under close assessment. We are leading international diplomatic efforts. Indeed, that is why we have called an urgent meeting of the Security Council today as the penholder. We continue to work with all parties to try to bring an end to this conflict.
Question
It is undeniable that what is happening in Sudan is a war on women, with the use of rape and brutal sexual violence. Can the Minister tell us how we are doing that, and how we will use this moment to ensure that we stand with women and girls in Sudan?
Minister reply
I completely associate myself with my hon. Friend’s comments and expectations. I assure her that this issue remains at the heart not only of our work on holding individuals responsible and on bringing this conflict to an end, but also of the specific support we are providing through our programming for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Question
The latest attack is yet another where the detail makes me feel sick to my stomach, yet it is simply an extension of the evil that the world has turned a blind eye to thus far. What more will the Government do to deliver the right help and to step up and step in for the people facing that devastation in Sudan?
Minister reply
I completely associate myself with the hon. Gentleman’s comments. As I have said, we keep all these matters under close assessment and we are leading international diplomatic efforts.
Question
Can the Minister explain what more can be done to make sure that the RSF understands that hospitals and healthcare facilities should not be targeted in the way that it is doing and that the sanctity of life has to be considered when civilian populations are concerned?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend can be assured that in our contact directly with the RSF and all the parties to the conflict, we regularly raise the protection of humanitarian workers and, most importantly, the need for an end to this horrific conflict.
Question
What has the UK done since the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that Member States with influence must act urgently to prevent large-scale atrocities, and will he consider additional sanctions or travel bans for RSF leaders and their regional backers?
Minister reply
We keep sanctions under regular review. We have been in contact regularly with other members of the Quad and speak to the African Union regularly, and indeed hosted an event with it at the United Nations. I can absolutely assure my hon. Friend that we will use every diplomatic lever and every contact we can to try to bring an end to this terrible conflict.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the horrifying situation in Sudan, noting that the UK has mobilised £23 million towards an emergency humanitarian response and is working as a UN Security Council penholder to press for de-escalation. The government called for immediate restraint from all parties involved, including the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and condemned the killing of aid workers. They are also supporting accountability efforts through non-governmental organisations and lobbying at international forums.