Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking in its role as penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council to help prevent further violence in (a) El Fasher and (b) Sudan.

The UK condemns the violence taking place across Sudan, including in El Fasher. On 8 March, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2724, led by the UK, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the month of Ramadan and urging the warring parties to ensure safe, unhindered humanitarian access. We condemn the fact that the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces did not heed this Resolution. On El Fasher, the UN Security Council agreed a UK-led press statement on 27 April, calling for de-escalation, and we also called for the Security Council to convene on the deteriorating situation, which it did on 29 April. The UK will continue to use its position as penholder at the UN Security Council to urge the warring parties to achieve a ceasefire, increase much-needed humanitarian assistance and access, and ensure the protection of civilians.