Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): "According to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as of 31 December 2011 around 300,000 people have been internally displaced or severely affected by the conflict in the state of South Kordofan. Additionally 20,000 have fled to South Sudan and 35,000 to Khartoum. The lack of independent access means that there is no reliable estimate of the number of civilians killed in the state."
Baroness Cox (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the statement by Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, on 17 January on United Nations Radio, that the Government of the Republic of Sudan has restricted aid organisations' access to victims of military offensives in Southern Kordofan, and that there is a "grave" risk of famine."
Baroness Northover (Whip, House of Lords; Liberal Democrat): "We share the United States' concerns about Southern Kordofan and continue to urge for an immediate cessation of hostilities and full humanitarian access to all those in need of assistance. UK officials in Khartoum are working with the broader humanitarian community to monitor the levels of malnutrition and other needs and regularly engage the Government of Sudan on this issue."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 23 January (WA 195), what proportion of debt cancellation in Sudan will accrue to the Government of South Sudan; what this will represent in real terms; and whether the condition of "genuine progress toward inclusive peace and justice" includes compliance with international norms on human rights and conflict resolution."
Baroness Northover (Whip, House of Lords; Liberal Democrat): "The Republic of Sudan agreed to take on all of the debt at secession on the proviso that significant progress towards debt relief is made within two years. On this basis South Sudan would not require debt relief. Sudan's debt amounts to roughly $38 billion and is owed mainly to Gulf States, China, and Paris Club countries, plus a number of international organisations and commercial creditors.
"As we have consistently made clear to the Sudanese Government, debt relief remains conditional on the need to see genuine progress toward inclusive peace and justice throughout the country, and resolving the outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Ongoing conflicts and human rights concerns would play an important part."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of bombing attacks by the Republic of Sudan on territories in South Sudan; and what representations they have made to their international partners and the Republic of Sudan."
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): "We are greatly concerned by reports that the Sudanese Armed Forces have carried out aerial bombardments in South Sudan and condemn any action that puts civilians at risk. Ministers and officials have pressed the importance of both sides refraining from military action or support across borders with senior government and military figures in both Sudan and South Sudan."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports originating from the Satellite Sentinel Project that the Sudanese Armed Forces have cut off the main evacuation routes for refugees leaving areas attacked in South Kordofan, have encircled the civilian population in the last rebel strongholds of the Nuba Mountains, and are building roads and lengthening the closest airstrip in order to facilitate an assault on the Nuba people in South Kordofan."
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): "We follow developments in Southern Kordofan closely and are greatly concerned by the ongoing conflict as well as its impact on civilians. We are aware of the reports by the Satellite Sentinel Project. This conflict has already blocked many routes out of Southern Kordofan state, and we would be concerned by any actions to block them further. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend Mr Bellingham, raised the need to end the conflict in Southern Kordofan and ensure full humanitarian access when he met the Sudanese Foreign Minister at the African Union summit in January."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will be assisting any efforts by the United States to deliver humanitarian assistance to South Kordofan and Blue Nile."
Baroness Northover (Whip, House of Lords; Liberal Democrat): "We are deeply concerned at the continued lack of humanitarian access in the conflict areas of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile State, and the impact this is having on the large numbers of displaced people in these areas. We particularly welcome the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs' engagement on the issue, and are working with her team to support her efforts. We are also working closely with our international partners, including the US, on a lasting solution for the delivery of humanitarian aid, and will continue to exert pressure to achieve humanitarian access with direct contact with the Sudanese Government."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have assessed the situation in South Sudan's Jonglei State; who they believe to be responsible for the deaths and displacement of civilians; and what discussions they have had with the Government of South Sudan about the restoration of order."
Lord Howell of Guildford (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Conservative): "We are very concerned about the conflict in Jonglei state, which has displaced an estimated 168,000 people. The causes of conflict in Jonglei are complex, with resource competition between different tribal groups having been complicated by the increased availability of arms and activities of rebel militias in recent years. Past grievances and the desire for revenge further fuel the spiral of violence. Protection of civilians should be the first priority, and we support the efforts of the Government of South Sudan, supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, in that regard. It is important now to prevent reprisals and break the cycle of violence. Our Ambassador in Juba has met the South Sudanese Vice President and the Acting Defence Minister to discuss the Government's plans for a reconciliation and peace process in Jonglei involving the church, local and central leadership and civil society. We continue to urge the Government of South Sudan to redouble efforts to defuse tension and find permanent means of resolving differences between communities."
Andrew Smith (Oxford East, Labour): "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of withdrawal from the Abyei area by (a) Sudanese armed forces personnel and (b) Sudanese People's Liberation Army personnel since 1 January 2012; and if he will make a statement."
Henry Bellingham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa and the United Nations), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North West Norfolk, Conservative): "The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has confirmed that the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan are both maintaining security forces within the Abyei area boundary.
"We welcome the meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee on 18 and 19 January. We note and endorse its call for all unauthorised forces present in Abyei to withdraw now, and for the Abyei Area Administration and Abyei Legislative Council to be established. We commend the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) for the positive role it has played in overseeing community-level dialogue which has helped to ease tensions."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian organisations are currently operating in Abyei and what assessment they have made about whether current conditions would allow the resumption of activity by aid organisations which have withdrawn."
Baroness Northover (Whip, House of Lords; Liberal Democrat): "Humanitarian organisations are currently providing relief assistance to approximately 110,000 people who have been displaced from Abyei. The continued presence of unauthorised forces and the risk of land mines continue to deter the return of those displaced by conflict and limit the activity of humanitarian organisations in Abyei itself. Several United Nation agencies have returned to Abyei town, including UNICEF (the UN Children's Fund), the World Health Organisation, and the UN High Commission for Refugees. Most of the humanitarian international non-governmental organisations have been operating out of Agok, across the Kiir River in South Sudan, since 2008 and have not had a sustained presence in Abyei town."
Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench): "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan's Jonglei state; and what aid is being made available to those displaced by the ethnic violence there."
Baroness Northover (Whip, House of Lords; Liberal Democrat): "Britain is playing a lead role in providing emergency relief to Jonglei and other states in South Sudan. In December 2011, the Secretary of State approved a two-year package of support for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) in South Sudan. UK support to the extended 2011 CHF and the new 2012 CHF will assist in providing emergency relief to Jonglei and other states over the coming months.
"According to the latest information from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, dated 30 January, 141,787 people have been registered as affected by the latest conflict in Jonglei state, and a further 95,889 have been reported as in need. Registration and reported numbers are being verified and assessments are ongoing. The international community, including the UK through its support to the CHF, is providing food and other emergency assistance to affected areas. 78,883 people have received food aid to date."
