Asked by: Stephen Phillips (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the Nigerian government on returning displaced people to areas previously in the control of Boko Haram.
Answered by James Duddridge
We welcome the recent progress made by the Nigerian armed forces in the fight against Boko Haram and the UK continues to support their efforts. The security situation in North East Nigeria however remains extremely fragile and it is not yet appropriate for many displaced people to return to their homes. The UK is supporting the Government of Nigeria and the UN to help those affected by the conflict and we have provided £5.5 million this year for the humanitarian response in North East Nigeria. Tackling Boko Haram will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the political, economic and development problems in North East Nigeria, in addition to a security response. We are supporting the Nigerian authorities to improve security and put the conditions in place to enable the safe return of internally displaced people to their homes.
Asked by: Stephen Phillips (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the situation along the Colombia-Venezuela border.
Answered by Lord Swire
On 19 August, Venezuelan authorities closed part of the border with Colombia and declared a State of Exception (SoE) in some municipalities. The SoE now includes municipalities in the states of Zulia, Apure and Táchira and the border is now closed in five out of six of Colombia’s departments. The Colombian Ministry of Defence reported that, on 13 September, unauthorised Venezuelan military aircraft entered Colombian airspace. Our Embassies in Bogotá and Caracas are monitoring the situation closely.
The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian affairs reported that over 20,000 Colombians have left Venezuela in four weeks, over 1,500 of whom were deported. There are ongoing reports of humanitarian concerns, that many of those deported have had their houses destroyed and there have been other complaints of serious mistreatment.
I welcome the talks between the two governments’ respective Foreign Ministers, sponsored by Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), on 12 September, and the announcement that President Santos and President Maduro have agreed to hold bilateral talks. I hope that a diplomatic solution can be found to end the current crisis.
Asked by: Stephen Phillips (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to assist in the brokering of peace in Yemen.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
A political solution is the best way to achieve long-term stability in Yemen, and we remain fully and actively supportive of the UN’s efforts to bring an end to the conflict and resumption of an inclusive political process. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with eighty per cent of the population in need of assistance. The Department for International Development has allocated £55 million, through UN agencies and humanitarian Non-Governmental Organisations, to support Yemenis affected by the crisis.Asked by: Stephen Phillips (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of antiquities and historic sites in Yemen.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen are parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict and to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. We have raised our concerns regarding protection of cultural property with the Saudi Arabian government and have received assurances. A political solution is the best way to achieve long-term stability in Yemen, and we remain fully and actively supportive of the UN’s efforts to bring an end to the conflict.