Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on the risk of (a) starvation and (b) malnourishment of the suspension of the distribution of World Food Programme aid in Kombolcha and Dessie towns following a deterioration in the local security situation; and what steps she is taking to enable secure humanitarian access in that area.

The conflict in Ethiopia has caused huge levels of suffering with the UN estimating 9.4 million people across the north of the country in need of food aid. Of this number, it is estimated that over 400,000 people in Tigray are experiencing famine-like conditions. Without free and unfettered access for relief agencies and a cessation of hostilities the situation will deteriorate and young children will bear the brunt.

The UK is working to bring an end to the violence and to facilitate humanitarian access. We remain very concerned about the security context including in Kombolcha and Dessie in Amhara. Armed violence poses both a threat to civilians as well as to humanitarian actors many of whom have suspended or reduced their operations owing to insecurity. I have called on all parties to urgently agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid through. I spoke with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Redwan on 18 November and the Ethiopian Minister of Justice, Gedion, on 6 December. I have continued to emphasise the need for a ceasefire through recent calls with my international counterparts, including Kenya and the African Union.