Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reports that acute malnutrition has killed 1,852 vulnerable civilians and affected 1,743 others in areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement, including casualties and illnesses among children, pregnant and lactating women, and elderly people, across the Jebel Marra, Tawila, and Ain Siro regions; and what steps they are taking to address the situation, in particular the shortage of healthcare facilities.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 16 October in response to Question 32464, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK is concerned by the risk of further deterioration of the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan over the coming months. This is a man made crisis - driven by repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and humanitarian operations and by the systematic obstruction of aid - that is being exacerbated by a strong El Nino.

The UK continues to engage both warring parties, regional partners and the international community to press for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and unimpeded humanitarian access, in line with international law. These measures are essential to enabling access to farmland, maintaining markets and trade routes, and supporting the movement of agricultural goods.

The UK is providing £146 million in aid to Sudan this financial year (FY26/27), making us the third largest humanitarian donor. As part of this,we are providing £15 million to local responders , who are often the first to identify needs, report on the crisis, and deliver life-saving assistance to famine-affected communities.