Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation for refugees and internally displaced people in (a) Ethiopia and (b) neighbouring countries as a result of the conflict in the Tigray region.

It is clear that the conflict in Tigray has had significant consequences and has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, internally and externally, as well as adversely impacting upon those that were already in need of humanitarian assistance. As of 15 January, 57,500 people have sought refuge in Sudan. We are extremely concerned that humanitarian agencies, including the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), still do not have access to refugee camps in northern Tigray, who have been without aid for many weeks. The UK continues to call for sustained, free and unfettered access to enable the delivery of much needed humanitarian assistance. We are saddened by further reports from Tigray of massacres of civilians, sexual violence, and attacks on humanitarian facilities. Protection of civilians must be a top priority. Independent investigations into allegations of human rights violations are critical.

The UK is working closely with humanitarian organisations to make sure aid reaches civilians affected by the fighting. UK humanitarian staff visited Gondar in neighbouring Amhara region this week to see response coordination. UK-funded aid agencies in Tigray are working hard to deliver support in challenging circumstances, including shelter, water and healthcare.