Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to support doctors treating the victims of violence during protests in Khartoum.

The British Government is deeply concerned by reports that hospitals in Khartoum were being controlled and targeted by Sudanese security forces. It is unacceptable for injured civilians to be prevented access to medical facilities. These are not the actions of responsible and credible authorities representing the people of Sudan.

On 6 June, I summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to express our grave concerns at the use of all forms of violence against civilians and medical professionals, by the Sudanese authorities. This was reiterated in a most recent statement issued by the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 17 June, which stated attacks against hospitals, medical staff and patients must stop, and that any obstacles to the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance needs to be removed immediately.

I had set out the UK's position at the FAC that called for the human rights of all Sudanese people to be respected, and the resumption of the political process leading to an agreed peaceful transfer of power to a civilian-led government, as demanded by the Sudanese people.