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Written question asked by Richard Graham (Conservative) on Friday, 12 December 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 2014. It was answered by Justine Greening (Conservative) on Thursday, 18 December 2014 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Middle East

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to assist Yazidi women in Iraq and Syria who have been kidnapped by ISIS.

Answer

The current security situation and the deliberate blocking of aid by ISIL have made it extremely difficult for us or our partners to access ISIL controlled areas.

We condemn the brutal human rights abuses perpetrated by ISIL, including reports of the trafficking and kidnapping of Yezidi women. The UK government is committed, as part of an international coalition, to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL.

UK humanitarian aid has been helping many victims who have managed to escape ISIL’s atrocities, including through the protection of vulnerable groups and through meeting the specific needs of displaced women and girls. In Dahuk in Northern Iraq, where many Yezidi women have fled to, our partners are providing psychosocial and community outreach support for survivors of sexual and gender based violence.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
218552
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Women Iraq Abduction Syria Islamic State
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk