Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in (a) southern Idlib and (b) northern Hama; and what steps his Department is taking to help alleviate the humanitarian situation in those regions.

The UK is extremely concerned about the continued escalation of violence in northern Hama and southern Idlib, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, including approximately 100,000 children. We are appalled by the Regime and Russia’s senseless attacks on civilian infrastructure, with at least 50 schools, 35 health facilities and eight water stations reportedly damaged or destroyed.

DFID remains committed to helping to alleviate the suffering of the affected civilian population. Last year alone, we provided over £80 million of support to Idlib and surrounding areas, and we are continuing our support this year too. Our UN and NGO partners are working tirelessly to meet growing needs among displaced people through distributing essential items such as food, water and medicines. In addition to humanitarian assistance, the UK continues to use our position on the UN Security Council to call out the regime and Russia in the strongest possible terms for the continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, which clearly violate international law.