Written question asked by David Drew (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 November 2002. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 November 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the status of Operation Lifeline Sudan; and whether flights are reaching those people in need of food and other necessities.

Answer: Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of Operation Lifeline Sudan; and whether flights are reaching those people in need of food and other necessities. [79387] Mr. Rammell: Operation Lifeline Sudan remains the principal mechanism by which humanitarian assistance is provided to war-affected areas in Sudan. The UN and the Humanitarian Affairs Commission and the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Authority met in Nairobi on 25 October, they discussed the implementation of unrestricted humanitarian access agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cessation of Hostilities on 17 October. We warmly welcome these developments. We continue to urge all parties to give all possible help to the UN and non governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance. Our Ambassador in Khartoum raised the general issue of humanitarian access with the Sudanese Minister of International Co-operation on 24 October.

Secondary information