Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sudan: Emergency Situation

Tuesday 2 May 2023 · 7 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Department brought more than 2300 people out of Sudan, the largest evacuation mission by any western nation.
  • Government works with UN World Food Programme and other donors to provide humanitarian aid to Sudan.
  • Military personnel conducted repairs to the airport runway during evacuation operations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anne McLaughlin SNP
Foreign Affairs
Context

An emergency situation exists in Sudan with ongoing conflict, evacuations of British citizens, and severe humanitarian needs including food, water, and medical supplies.

Question

What steps is the Department taking in response to the emergency situation in Sudan?

Answer from James Cleverly

In addition to undertaking the longest, largest evacuation mission of any western nation—bringing more than 2,300 people out of Sudan—we continue to push for a permanent end to the conflict and a resumption of civilian rule. We will make a fuller statement later today.

Answered
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Q2 Anne McLaughlin SNP
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

A constituent raised concerns about the difficulties in getting humanitarian aid to people in Sudan, noting that 75% of hospitals are closed and supply chains from Khartoum have broken down.

Question

What will the Government do, and when, to get food, water and medicine to Sudan, and how can we ensure that it actually gets to people given that supply chains from Khartoum have all but broken down?

Answer from James Cleverly

We will continue to work with organisations such as the United Nations World Food Programme and other international donors to provide additional humanitarian support. We are coordinating closely to ensure aid reaches those who need it.

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Q3 Richard Drax Con
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

Concerns were raised about the security of British citizens being evacuated from Sudan, specifically regarding the lack of armed escort to protect them.

Question

Were British citizens told to get to the airport with no escort at all?

Answer from James Cleverly

Military logistics made it impractical to provide armed escorts from multiple points to a single exit. Safety assessments were conducted, and advice was provided accordingly. The British military sustained the longest airhead of any western nation at Wadi Saeedna.

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Q4 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The BBC's closure of Arabic and Persian radio services has raised concerns about the impact on news access for millions in Iran and Sudan.

Question

Will the Foreign Secretary commission a rapid impact assessment of these cuts?

Answer from James Cleverly

The Government negotiated financial predictability for the World Service, ensuring no further closures during this Parliament. The BBC values its language services highly and will continue broadcasting to Sudan despite earlier closures.

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Q5 James Duddridge Con
Defence
Context

Reports suggest damage to the airport runway, potentially impacting humanitarian aid deliveries.

Question

Could the excellent British military resolve any problems related to the state of the airport runway?

Answer from James Cleverly

British military personnel did repairs while using the runway. The airfield was handed back in a usable condition, having been maintained during operations.

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Q6 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

Following the operation to evacuate British nationals and others from Sudan, concerns have been raised about the treatment of NHS doctors who were residents in the UK. Reports indicate that at least 24 NHS doctors who were British residents but not yet evacuated faced uncertainty.

Question

With the evacuation now concluded, I question whether all correct decisions were made during the operation. Initially, the evacuation was halted once diplomats were out while other countries continued their efforts. Additionally, reports suggest that NHS doctors resident in the UK were initially turned away despite requesting to be evacuated. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm that every NHS doctor who requested an evacuation was indeed evacuated, regardless of citizenship status?

Answer from James Cleverly

The right hon. Gentleman is factually incorrect regarding his points in the question. After evacuating diplomatic staff, which was both a moral and legal duty, we continued planning for a wider operation including various eventualities. When opportunities arose, we conducted one of the largest airlifts involving British nationals, their dependants, and others from Sudan. We maintain ongoing support through our presence at Port Sudan and border regions to continue facilitating evacuations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Foreign Secretary did not confirm that all NHS doctors who requested evacuation were safely returned.

How: Factually Incorrect, Planning Continued

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Q7 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
NHS Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

Reports indicate that at least 24 NHS doctors who were British residents but not yet evacuated faced uncertainty. The Foreign Secretary's previous response did not fully address the specific issue.

Question

Newsnight reported last week about at least 24 NHS doctors who were British residents but had not boarded evacuation flights. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm that all 24, along with any other NHS doctors requiring evacuation, were safely returned to the UK so they can resume their duties in a strained NHS?

Answer from James Cleverly

My right hon. Friend the Africa Minister has provided updated figures indicating that 22 of the identified 24 individuals have been directly evacuated by us. It is important to note that some evacuees may have found their own routes out, and we coordinate closely with NHS and direct conversations to ensure full service.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Foreign Secretary did not confirm whether the remaining two individuals were returned or not.

How: Updated Figures Provided, Coordination Efforts

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