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Written question asked by Lord Turnberg (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 July 2014, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 July 2014. It was answered by Baroness Warsi (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 July 2014 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Syria and Iraq

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are proposing in the United Nations to alleviate the situations in Syria and Iraq; and what assessment they have made of the likelihood of the United Nations taking such action.[HL742]

Answer

The UK is actively working with our partners, including the Friends of Syria Core Group (‘London 11’) and the UN in bringing about a sustainable solution to the crisis in Syria through a negotiated political transition by mutual consent - this is the principle in the Geneva Communiqué agreed by the UN, the League of Arab States and the UN Security Council.

The UK is also at the forefront of the international response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Our total humanitarian funding for Syria and the region is now £600 million and we are leading efforts in the UN Security Council in pressing for a stronger Resolution that would give the UN’s humanitarian agencies the authority they have been asking for to deliver help to millions of Syrians in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

The UK has also announced £5 million of humanitarian assistance in response to the situation in Iraq, where the situation is fast-moving and complex. There is a need for new international efforts and mechanisms to stem the flow of arms to extremist groups, cut off their finances and prevent them from exploiting the economic assets that they have seized. The UK will be making proposals for this work.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL742; 755 cc77-8WA
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Armed conflict Iraq United Nations Syria
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk