Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to track progress towards achieving the two global targets on girls’ education endorsed by G7 leaders in June 2021.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We have committed to publish an annual report tracking progress against the two new global objectives, in collaboration with UNESCO and the UN Girls' Education Initiative. The report is due to be published in the summer of 2022 and annually will highlight the progress that low- and middle-income countries have made in getting 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more girls reading by the age of 10, as well as demonstrating the obstacles that are still to be overcome.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department is having with HM Treasury on issuing updated sanctions guidance to give aid agencies, banks and other private sector actors greater clarity and confidence on how they can operate in Afghanistan.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
On 1 November, the UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued new guidance (https://ofsi.blog.gov.uk/2021/11/01/ofsi-updates-charity-sector-guidance/ ) to the charity sector on operating in Afghanistan. This was issued after close collaboration with FCDO, and is kept under constant review. The UK government is working closely with the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to ensure that UK aid benefits Afghans in need while meeting our international obligations. We are providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan through the UN, NGOs and the Red Cross Movement on the ground, who are continuing to ensure vital aid reaches those who need it most. We have made the humanitarian situation and access a major subject of our engagement with the Taliban. They have assured us and the UN that aid workers are able to operate freely, and the UN is reporting that this is broadly happening. We continue to monitor this closely.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department is having with the Home Office on a scheme to allow human rights defenders, democratically elected representatives and women's rights champions from Afghanistan to find political asylum in the UK.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Government is pressing the Taliban to respect human rights in Afghanistan, including the rights of human rights defenders, democratically elected representatives and women's rights champions. The Government has also doubled its aid to Afghanistan. Resettlement in the UK can be a solution for only a small minority of Afghanistan's people. During Op Pitting the Government evacuated more than 15,000 people from Afghanistan to the UK, including some in the groups referred to. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme has resettled thousands of at-risk Afghans who have worked with or alongside the UK government, and their families. The Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (ACRS) will provide further protection for people at risk identified as in need. The scheme is not yet open and further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking at the World Bank and other multilateral institutions to tackle the banking and liquidity crisis in Afghanistan to allow teachers and other public sector workers to receive salary payments and schools and clinics to operate.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The UK Government is prioritising support to the humanitarian response in Afghanistan. We are working closely with the World Bank and our partners on options to support essential basic services in Afghanistan to prevent an escalation in the humanitarian crisis. The UK has been at the forefront in supporting the repurposing of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, including the recently announced release of $280m to support basic health care and food security. We are also supporting proposals to address banking and liquidity issue.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to address the humanitarian situation in South Sudan following the recent floods as outlined in the UNOCHA Global Humanitarian Overview; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. We are deeply concerned at the impact such flooding has on millions of ordinary South Sudanese, exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis. As a leading donor to South Sudan, HMG aims to reach 2 million people with some form of humanitarian assistance this year. Our humanitarian spend of £34.5 million this year includes help to those impacted by flooding. For example HMG contributions to the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the International Federation of Red Cross Disaster Relief Emergency Fund have provided emergency food, shelter, water and sanitation services to those affected.
In addition, we have provided emergency support to those affected by flooding through existing programmes. This includes in Jonglei State where we have supported more than 15,000 displaced people with soap, buckets, water purification supplies and mosquito nets. In Unity State plastic sheeting, blankets and cooking supplies have been provided to more than 9,400 affected by floods. We also continue to press the Government of South Sudan to prioritise providing their own funding for essential services for their citizens.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what additional funding she has allocated to the emergency flood response in South Sudan.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. We are deeply concerned at the impact such flooding has on millions of ordinary South Sudanese, exacerbating the existing humanitarian crisis. As a leading donor to South Sudan, HMG aims to reach 2 million people with some form of humanitarian assistance this year. Our humanitarian spend of £34.5 million this year includes help to those impacted by flooding. For example HMG contributions to the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the International Federation of Red Cross Disaster Relief Emergency Fund have provided emergency food, shelter, water and sanitation services to those affected.
In addition, we have provided emergency support to those affected by flooding through existing programmes. This includes in Jonglei State where we have supported more than 15,000 displaced people with soap, buckets, water purification supplies and mosquito nets. In Unity State plastic sheeting, blankets and cooking supplies have been provided to more than 9,400 affected by floods. We also continue to press the Government of South Sudan to prioritise providing their own funding for essential services for their citizens.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has received of the level of malnutrition observed in the Bentiu camp for internally displaced people in South Sudan; and what nutritional and primary health assistance she is providing to those affected.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. In Bentiu, climate and conflict have put more people in need of humanitarian support. Flood waters have also made the delivery of aid even more challenging, impacting supply routes including around the Bentiu Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp.
In December £500,000 of HMG humanitarian programme funding was reallocated to provide additional helicopter capacity so that humanitarian organisations could deliver aid to areas severely impacted by flooding, including Bentiu. We have also provided funding to different UN bodies and funds such as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which have allocated resources to Bentiu, and the World Food Programme who aim to support 37,000 people in Bentiu IDP camp. The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund that we contribute to has also recently allocated $2.3 million to support health, water and sanitation services for displaced people in Bentiu IDP camp. This additional funding which will support pregnant women, provide safe water and hygiene promotion, improve waste management, and help prevent further cases of hepatitis.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to ensure that basic water and sanitation services are available in the Bentiu camp for internally displaced persons in South Sudan.
Answered by Vicky Ford
In the last three years South Sudan has seen widespread and protracted flooding driven by abnormally intense and extensive rains. In Bentiu, climate and conflict have put more people in need of humanitarian support. Flood waters have also made the delivery of aid even more challenging, impacting supply routes including around the Bentiu Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp.
In December £500,000 of HMG humanitarian programme funding was reallocated to provide additional helicopter capacity so that humanitarian organisations could deliver aid to areas severely impacted by flooding, including Bentiu. We have also provided funding to different UN bodies and funds such as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which have allocated resources to Bentiu, and the World Food Programme who aim to support 37,000 people in Bentiu IDP camp. The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund that we contribute to has also recently allocated $2.3 million to support health, water and sanitation services for displaced people in Bentiu IDP camp. This additional funding which will support pregnant women, provide safe water and hygiene promotion, improve waste management, and help prevent further cases of hepatitis.