Sudan

Earl of Courtown Excerpts

Thursday 17th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown (Con)]

My Lords, the situation in Sudan, as we have heard, is now a catastrophe. No part of the country or indeed any neighbouring country has been unaffected. Some 11 million people are displaced inside Sudan and millions more have fled to neighbouring countries. What actions are the Government taking to support countries bordering Sudan to provide for those displaced by the conflict and humanitarian crisis in the country?

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

We are working closely with countries that neighbour Sudan, for reasons that the noble Earl will understand. There has been enormous displacement of people. I went to Adré, on the border with Chad, and some of the accounts, particularly of sexual violence experienced by women who have walked many miles unaided to reach safety, will stay with me for ever.

We are working bilaterally with the Government of Chad and in South Sudan to support those populations. We have pooled funds and we are working alongside the international community to do what we can. The Foreign Secretary held a conference a couple of months ago now to try to move this forward. It is incredibly frustrating and difficult. Until there is some semblance of peace in Sudan, I fear we are going to continue to see incredible hardship and devastation meted out on the innocent civilian population of that country.