Written question asked by Baroness Cox (Crossbench) on Tuesday, 3 May 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 May 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 May 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Sudan: Minority Groups

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the Beja people in Eastern Sudan, in particular to prevent kidnapping and people trafficking.

Answer: The UK is supporting the people of Eastern Sudan, including the Beja people, in a number of ways. The Department for International Development (DfID) spends £30million in Eastern Sudan to help improve vulnerable communities’ food security and nutrition, provide sustainable water supplies and improve sanitation. DfID also provides core funding to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees which supports host and refugee communities across Sudan to improve livelihoods and reduce the risk of human trafficking. The UK is also taking a lead role in the Khartoum Process, which prioritises tackling smuggling and trafficking across the Horn of Africa, including Sudan.

Secondary information