Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to address obstacles to humanitarian access (a) at Port Sudan, (b) at other borders of Sudan and (c) between areas within that country; and whether he has had discussions with (i) international organisations, (ii) non-governmental organisations and (iii) his counterparts in states neighbouring Sudan on the potential for expanding humanitarian supply routes alternative to Port Sudan.

Unfortunately, humanitarian access into Sudan remains highly constrained, with Port Sudan the primary entry point for relief supplies. Onward distribution from Port Sudan is very limited, owing to the ongoing intense conflict and continued tight control by the warring parties of humanitarian operations within Sudan. The UK is working with the UN, neighbouring states, donors and humanitarian agencies to pressure the parties to abide by their commitments under international humanitarian law and allow lifesaving humanitarian aid to reach the Sudanese people, in particular those in harder-to-reach areas such as Darfur and Kordofan.