Oral Answers to Questions

Warinder Juss Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Commons Chamber

The hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—

[Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab)]

10. What assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact of the conflict in Sudan on the Christian population in that country.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Marsha De Cordova)]

The Anglican communion is deeply alarmed by the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, which has been described by regional bishops as “almost unbearable”. Christian communities are among the hardest hit and are facing mass killings, sexual violence and famine. Millions of people have been displaced, and churches and properties have been seized, burnt and destroyed. The Archbishop of Sudan briefed MPs and bishops before Christmas, and said that the conflict has created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis.

[Warinder Juss]

Earlier this year I attended the Open Doors world watch list launch, at the request of my Wolverhampton West constituents, who are gravely concerned about the situation in Sudan. The event confirmed the extreme levels of persecution against Christians in that country, with reports of forced conversions, physical punishment, the destruction of churches and sexual violence. Given that the conflict seems to be getting worse, with the country rising nearly 10 places on the Open Doors watch list in the past five years, can my hon. Friend please outline what steps are being taken to supply international aid and support to Christians being persecuted in Sudan?