My Lords, I have answered questions before at this Dispatch Box about the situation in Sudan and elsewhere. We are very mindful of the movement of refugees.

My Lords, I have answered questions before at this Dispatch Box about the situation in Sudan and elsewhere. We are very mindful of the movement of refugees.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of refugee movements following Israeli military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of refugee movements following Israeli military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

My Lords, the Government are gravely concerned about the conflict in Lebanon and the humanitarian impact. We strongly condemn Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks against Israel. These must cease immediately. The forced displacement of 1 million Lebanese people as a result of Israeli operations is unacceptable and could have further disastrous humanitarian consequences—900 people have died. The UK Government have committed an additional £7.5 million to support immediate humanitarian needs in Lebanon, on top of our existing support.

My Lords, the Government are gravely concerned about the conflict in Lebanon and the humanitarian impact. We strongly condemn Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks against Israel. These must cease immediately. The forced displacement of 1 million Lebanese people as a result of Israeli operations is unacceptable and could have further disastrous humanitarian consequences—900 people have died. The UK Government have committed an additional £7.5 million to support immediate humanitarian needs in Lebanon, on top of our existing support.

We condemn Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel. Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation and must immediately cease its rocket fire. Israel must not expand this war further into Lebanon, and we are deeply concerned by the scale of Israeli military action. We are providing humanitarian funding in Lebanon, as I have said. Since 15 March, the Foreign Secretary has announced a total of £15 million in humanitarian support for Lebanon and other countries in the region. Of the total £15 million, half the funding announced will support organisations in Lebanon. We are sustaining political engagement with both Lebanon and Israel. Minister Falconer spoke to Lebanese Foreign Minister Rajji, and the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Prime Minister Salam and to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we need diplomatic action to prevent this conflict widening and to respond to some of the wider concerns the right reverend Prelate raises.

We condemn Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel. Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation and must immediately cease its rocket fire. Israel must not expand this war further into Lebanon, and we are deeply concerned by the scale of Israeli military action. We are providing humanitarian funding in Lebanon, as I have said. Since 15 March, the Foreign Secretary has announced a total of £15 million in humanitarian support for Lebanon and other countries in the region. Of the total £15 million, half the funding announced will support organisations in Lebanon. We are sustaining political engagement with both Lebanon and Israel. Minister Falconer spoke to Lebanese Foreign Minister Rajji, and the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Prime Minister Salam and to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we need diplomatic action to prevent this conflict widening and to respond to some of the wider concerns the right reverend Prelate raises.

I thank the noble Lord for that question. He is right to say that we are working with our allies and partners. As he knows, we are long-standing supporters of the sovereignty of Lebanon, and we

welcome the commitments made by the Lebanese Government, including banning Hezbollah’s military activities. The UK has provided over £850 million in official development assistance in Lebanon since 2011, going back through several Governments, right back to the coalition Government. This includes humanitarian and development assistance to Syrian refugees and the Lebanese community hosting them—in response to the right reverend Prelate’s question—as well as support to the Lebanese security services. I can say more if noble Lords want to ask me about international co-operation to move forward on the Strait of Hormuz.

I thank the noble Lord for that question. He is right to say that we are working with our allies and partners. As he knows, we are long-standing supporters of the sovereignty of Lebanon, and we

welcome the commitments made by the Lebanese Government, including banning Hezbollah’s military activities. The UK has provided over £850 million in official development assistance in Lebanon since 2011, going back through several Governments, right back to the coalition Government. This includes humanitarian and development assistance to Syrian refugees and the Lebanese community hosting them—in response to the right reverend Prelate’s question—as well as support to the Lebanese security services. I can say more if noble Lords want to ask me about international co-operation to move forward on the Strait of Hormuz.

I thank the noble Lord. Existing bilateral programming continues to bolster preparedness and national response capacity. This includes a £1 million top-up in January to pre-position emergency supplies

via the British Red Cross and the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as smaller reallocations by the UNFPA, IOM, UNICEF and others, to meet urgent needs. We will, of course, keep under consideration any requests for further help. We are very mindful of the situation in Lebanon. It is an enormous displacement: hundreds of thousands of people are homeless and are sleeping in temporary shelters on the seafront in Beirut. We will certainly take that forward. With regard to people smuggling, this is a fast-evolving situation, as I am sure the noble Lord knows. We will continue to monitor that, but we are very mindful of those dangers.

I thank the noble Lord. Existing bilateral programming continues to bolster preparedness and national response capacity. This includes a £1 million top-up in January to pre-position emergency supplies

via the British Red Cross and the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as smaller reallocations by the UNFPA, IOM, UNICEF and others, to meet urgent needs. We will, of course, keep under consideration any requests for further help. We are very mindful of the situation in Lebanon. It is an enormous displacement: hundreds of thousands of people are homeless and are sleeping in temporary shelters on the seafront in Beirut. We will certainly take that forward. With regard to people smuggling, this is a fast-evolving situation, as I am sure the noble Lord knows. We will continue to monitor that, but we are very mindful of those dangers.

I recognise the picture the noble Baroness paints. I am very happy to find out more, and to take that back to the Foreign Office to see if we can learn more about the specific questions she raises about the refugee camps. As far as the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is concerned, the crossings are still open and commercial flights are still running—at least, they were when I last heard. I am very happy to come back on the specific point about the Palestinian refugee camps.

I recognise the picture the noble Baroness paints. I am very happy to find out more, and to take that back to the Foreign Office to see if we can learn more about the specific questions she raises about the refugee camps. As far as the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is concerned, the crossings are still open and commercial flights are still running—at least, they were when I last heard. I am very happy to come back on the specific point about the Palestinian refugee camps.