Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Ethiopia

Tuesday 19 January 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • British Government remains concerned about conflict in Tigray region of Ethiopia
  • Government urges both sides to end fighting and protect civilians
  • Efforts are being made to address humanitarian crisis in Tigray

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Foreign Affairs
Context

No specific context provided other than concern about ongoing conflict.

Question

What recent assessment has the British Government made of the political situation in Ethiopia, particularly regarding the continued conflict in Tigray?

Answer from James Duddridge

The British Government remain concerned at the continued conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, and urge both sides to end fighting, protect civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian access. The Foreign Secretary has stressed those points directly to Prime Minister Abiy, and to Deputy Prime Minister Demeke when he visited the UK recently.

Answered
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Q2 Duncan Baker
Foreign Affairs
Context

A constituent supports an orphanage in Tigray and expresses concern about the humanitarian crisis.

Question

Mrs Peta Benson, a constituent of mine, has supported an orphanage in Tigray for years. Like many, we are extremely worried by the reported appalling humanitarian crisis that conflicts have brought to the region. Can my hon. Friend tell me that every effort is being made by the British Government to calm those hostilities and further de-escalate civil war in that region of Ethiopia?

Answer from James Duddridge

I thank my hon. Friend for his activity on this issue and can reassure him that we are making such efforts. I certainly underlined the need to end the fighting and prioritise the protection of civilians when I spoke to the Ethiopian Finance Minister last month, and I have also raised the issue of the conflict with regional leaders in the past few weeks. The Foreign Secretary and I will continue to raise these points, and I thank my hon. Friend for the contribution he is making to the debate.

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