Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help protect civilians caught up in the Syrian conflict since the UK air strikes of 14 April in that country.

On 14 April, the United Kingdom, together with our United States and French allies, took coordinated, limited and targeted action against the Assad regime’s chemical weapons capabilities to alleviate humanitarian suffering. At the UN Security Council and the International Syria Support Group we have continued to call on all parties to protect civilians in the Syrian conflict. Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt and I (Minister of State) attended the Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region Conference on 24-25 April in Brussels, where they focused on the need to protect civilians and aid workers in Syria, and called directly on the Assad regime and its backers to enable this.

As the second largest bilateral donor to the humanitarian response in Syria since 2011, we are providing life-saving and life-changing support for millions of people. At the Brussels Conference, the UK pledged to provide at least £450 million this year, and £300 million next year, to alleviate extreme suffering in Syria and to provide vital support in neighbouring countries.