Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Sudan is facing its worst humanitarian crisis on record with over 30 million people needing aid, 12 million displaced, and famine and cholera spreading. El Fasher has been under siege for over 500 days.
El Fasher has been under siege for over 500 days, and famine and cholera—all man-made problems—are rife. It has been described as the ‘epicentre of child suffering’. What is the UK doing to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid can reach those who need it?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the leadership that she has shown on this issue. I spoke to the UN emergency relief co-ordinator just yesterday and raised this issue. Of course, we are supporting the call of the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs for a pause in fighting so that aid can get in and the suffering can be alleviated.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
There is an apparent lack of focus on sub-Saharan Africa, impacting security and migration.
Do the Government actually have an Africa strategy—not just for north Africa, but for sub-Saharan Africa—and does the Foreign Secretary share my concern about the apparent lack of focus on the importance of sub-Saharan Africa to the security of the United States, let alone to our security and that of Africa itself? I encourage the Foreign Secretary to reach out to the US Secretary of State, and to join European partners in having a joined-up Africa strategy to deal with climate change, famine and terrorism in the Sahel and all across Africa—issues that are impacting on communities there, and on legal migration to this country. Will he work with his American partners?
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising Africa. The first thing that we did on coming into office was establish an Africa approach and a widespread consultation across the continent—that is absolutely right. We must be careful that authoritarian powers do not move in where the west exits. I reassure him that I have raised and discussed those issues with Secretary of State Rubio.
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Assessment & feedback
The exact details of an Africa strategy were not provided, but there was acknowledgment of consultations and discussions with US partners.
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
There are concerns about the impact of US Agency for International Development cuts on Africa, with China and Russia moving in to fill that void.
Given the devastation of the United States Agency for International Development, the temporary cuts in official development assistance and the growing desperate situation in areas of Africa, is the Foreign Secretary willing to meet me and colleagues who have worked in and care about the region, to understand our long-term strategy, particularly against China and Russia, which are moving in to fill that void?
I am grateful for the leadership that my hon. Friend showed on these issues before coming to this place; she continues to champion them now. On the Africa approach, and changes to development aid across the continent, whether they are made by us or by partners, either I or my colleague who leads on development will be very happy to meet my hon. Friend.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Rapid Support Forces have trapped 260,000 civilians in El Fasher, half of whom are children.
The Rapid Support Forces have trapped 260,000 civilians in El Fasher, half of whom are children, and many of whom are surviving on animal fodder. How are the Government working with allies to alleviate the effects on civilians of the terrible war in Sudan?
The hon. Gentleman will have seen that I led the Sudan conference, at which I brought third-party countries together to discuss those issues, co-ordinate across them, and ensure that nothing is done to exacerbate the conflict on that continent. As I indicated earlier, I expect to do more as we head towards UNGA, and to gather those third parties so that we get a pause and can get aid in.
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Assessment & feedback
The exact details of how the UK is working with allies were not provided, but there was acknowledgment of ongoing efforts through conferences and coordination.
Response accuracy