House of Commons · Urgent Question
15 December 2025 · 22 other contributors
Opened by Seamus Logan SNP Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Seamus Logan raised concerns about sudan humanitarian situation 2025-12-15 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 that the UK Government will take further action on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, including addressing cuts to overseas development assistance, supporting international atrocity prevention programmes, investigating the use of British-manufactured weapons by RSF forces, and committing to regular updates to Parliament?
Question
Although welcome, is there a need to go further with sanctions and aid measures? There have been cuts to the UK’s overseas development assistance from 0.5% to 0.3%. In addition, recent reports suggest that the work of the atrocity prevention team has been reduced. The UK refused to contribute to an atrocity prevention programme in Sudan even after risks became clear. Will the UK reinstate overseas development aid and reconsider its contribution to international atrocity programmes?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister has committed to continuing funding for Sudan over the next three years, so there will be no cuts. The Government is supporting the International Criminal Court’s investigation of the situation in Sudan. There is no evidence that UK weapons or ammunition have been used recently in Sudan.
Question
What is the timeline for further measures to protect civilians, particularly amid concerns about a hospital being shelled and refugees' security?
Minister reply
Tomorrow, the UK will co-host with Denmark an interactive dialogue at the United Nations Security Council addressing the urgent need to harmonize regional international mediation efforts to bring about a humanitarian ceasefire.
Question
What is the contribution of the UK to the UN inquiry into El Fasher? What direct engagement has been had with the Sudan Quad on finding diplomatic solutions, and what steps will be taken regarding shifting frontlines and aid delivery challenges?
Minister reply
The Government continues to work closely with all members of the Quad. The additional £21 million is about providing support directly on the ground for 800,000 people, including refugees in Chad and other countries.
Question
Why has the UK not ended all arms trade with the UAE, considering that UK arms may be ending up in Sudan?
Minister reply
The UK does not rule out any further sanctions and will take evidence-based decisions on what has meaningful impact. There is no evidence of UK-made equipment being used in recent reporting.
Question
Why has the UK left out RSF leader Hemedti from sanctions, despite the US imposing them? What are we doing to prevent atrocities of that scale?
Minister reply
We do not rule out any further sanctions but will take evidence-based decisions. We take allegations of UK-made equipment being used seriously but there is no recent reporting evidence.
Question
What specific engagement has taken place with the African Union on securing peace and aid distribution?
Minister reply
We are working closely with the AU to ensure that aid is delivered. There was a statement on 18 November, and there were oral questions to FCDO at the beginning of the month.
Question
Why have individuals involved in financing the RSF not been sanctioned despite their presence in the UK?
Minister reply
We do not comment on individual sanctions decisions. We will keep this matter under constant review, working with the Quad towards cessation of violence.
Question
What proactive measures are being taken to secure vital humanitarian structures such as healthcare?
Minister reply
We support work with the International Criminal Court. Humanitarian aid will help people through malnutrition and healthcare challenges due to the situation in Sudan.
Question
What discussions have taken place with the UAE since 4 November about UK arms exports?
Minister reply
There is no evidence in recent reporting of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.
Question
How are we working with international partners to stop sexual violence in conflict?
Minister reply
We utterly condemn the escalation of conflict-related sexual violence and have condemned it at the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council.
Question
Will the Minister ensure that the matter is referred to the General Assembly, where a veto cannot be used?
Minister reply
I am happy to look at any position at a multilateral level that supports the people of Sudan and brings a cessation of violence as quickly as possible.
Question
What lessons have been learned from El Fasher to prevent the RSF repeating its pattern in Tawila?
Minister reply
Prevention work is ongoing to try to avoid further horrendous scenes. We are doing our best at the UN level, EU and AU to ensure these conflicts do not continue.
Question
I welcome the additional funding and the sanctions that the Minister has updated us on. There is currently a rapid escalation of violence in the Kordofan region, with a repeat of the tactics seen in El Fasher, including siege and sexual violence. What will the Minister do to protect civilians and prevent future atrocities in the Kordofan region?
Minister reply
We are working at pace in the international multilateral space to do our very best to bring about a cessation of violence, even if it is over a short period, and we are working with the Quad to ensure that we bring about a permanent ceasefire.
Question
Clearly, the No.1 priority is to achieve a ceasefire in Sudan, but peace needs to be secured. Will the UK Government, as the UN penholder, organise and host a Lancaster House-style peace conference for all the parties to the conflict, with civilians represented by the head of the previous civilian Government, Abdalla Hamdok?
Minister reply
As I have mentioned, tomorrow we will co-host, with Denmark, the closed United Nations Security Council informal interactive dialogue. As a Government, we will continue to do all we can to bring about the cessation of violence. If we can do any additional work on negotiating peace, of course we will play our part in that.
Question
I thank the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) for securing the urgent question. We know that over 10 million people have already been displaced, more than half of them children. What action can be taken to support these children and their families? They are malnourished and traumatised and have had no education for the duration of the conflict.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises such an important point. In a previous answer, I spoke about the 98,000 children who we are supporting to tackle malnutrition. I reassure her that we are working with organisations like UNICEF to ensure that we are getting support to children on the ground. Conflict is horrific in all its forms, but there is no worse conflict than that against children, and it must be stopped.
Question
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned recently of escalating drone strikes across Darfur and Kordofan and, as the Minister said, six peacekeepers lost their lives in a drone attack on Saturday. It is of course the humans controlling the weapons who must stop, but there is a live conversation about this issue and organisations have called for new legally binding rules to offer legal certainty and stability around the use of drones and autonomous weapons systems. What is the Minister’s assessment of those systems? What conversations are the UK Government leading at the UN?
Minister reply
We are alarmed by the use of drones to attack civilians. We are particularly concerned about the recent attack, which my hon. Friend mentioned and to which I referred in my opening remarks, that killed peacekeepers and may have involved drones. Our export controls on arms are strict and include military drones, and we are working as best we can to ensure that external actors refrain from fuelling the conflict and work together to secure peace.
Question
I am pleased to hear the Minister confirm that the Government are supporting the work of the International Criminal Court’s investigations of the commanders implicated in the atrocities. Will he reassure us that the Government will waste no time in bringing further sanctions against individuals when charges are brought, and encourage international partners to do likewise?
Minister reply
As I have mentioned, we do not provide a running commentary on individual sanctions, but I assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that we will keep this matter under constant review.
Question
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) on securing the urgent question. Major aid cuts have happened, and a peacebuilding programme in Sudan was cancelled, which led to our failure to respond to the emerging civil war and the resulting genocide. Will the Minister confirm that any future aid cuts will come with a proper plan in advance? Will the conflict prevention unit be fully restored?
Minister reply
As I have mentioned, the Prime Minister has made it clear that we will continue to play a humanitarian role in Sudan, and he is committed to protecting our funding support for people affected by the crisis over the next three years. The fund is not linked to any official development assistance cuts and will, in fact, deliver £146 million of lifesaving aid over the next year.
Question
As well as the atrocious mass murders, the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan only worsens. It is vital that we commit ourselves not only to giving aid, but to delivering it in a way that reaches as many people as possible. Recently, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact highlighted how our Sudan-related aid is being undermined by understaffing, short-term and unpredictable funding allocations, over-complex compliance procedures and insufficient support for frontline responders. When can we expect the Government’s response to those findings? Can the Minister assure the House that the necessary changes will be made to ensure that humanitarian assistance gets through?
Question
The situation in Sudan is deteriorating every hour, yet the anguish that people are suffering is fresh and new. For Christians in particular, the murder, rape and systematic violence happens daily. Every day, another child loses their mother or father, their chance of education and their hope of a future. When will the Minister put his heartfelt words into action, and when can move into the region with other countries to restore peace? How we can get the help to those on the ground who need it most but whose voices cannot be heard?
Minister reply
I know how much these issues matter to the hon. Gentleman. We are working as quickly and robustly as possible at the UN level, and we are collaborating with European and American partners to bring about a peaceful settlement for the people of Sudan.
Question
In his response to my urgent question, the Minister referred to my presence or otherwise in the Chamber during a previous debate. I want the Minister to be aware, and the record to show, that members of my extended family are Sudanese nationals. Is it in order for the Minister to undermine the validity of my question in that way? Will he apologise?
Minister reply
The hon. Member has raised this point on the record.
Government Response
The UK is experiencing the most severe humanitarian crisis of the 21st century with 30 million people needing lifesaving aid. The Government has announced a package of sanctions targeting senior commanders from the Rapid Support Forces involved in violence in El Fasher and has stepped up its response to the crisis by providing an additional £21 million, taking the UK contribution to £146 million this year. This funding will reach over 800,000 people with lifesaving aid. The Foreign Secretary is working on three priorities: protecting civilians, strengthening humanitarian access, and securing an immediate ceasefire. The Government continues to support the International Criminal Court's investigation of Sudan and takes seriously allegations about UK-made equipment being used in Sudan.