Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made on recent restrictions placed on humanitarian access in South Sudan.

We are deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence and constrained humanitarian access in South Sudan. Alongside international partners, we remain in constant engagement with the Transitional Government to press for de-escalation, sustained aid access, and an inclusive political dialogue, and we have made clear that the Transitional Government, and all those with influence over armed groups, must allow humanitarian operators to operate freely and safely across the country.

The Foreign Secretary raised these issues directly with South Sudanese Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba during a bilateral meeting in Addis Ababa on 1 February, and on 6 February, we joined the US, Norway and other likeminded partners, in a joint statement condemning recent attacks on humanitarian operations and calling for unimpeded humanitarian access.