We are aware of allegations of two shootings in Abyei in recent days. We have raised these with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), both in New York and locally, and are awaiting further information. We would expect the results of any investigation to be

covered in reporting to the UN Security Council. In general, we believe that UNISFA, with a challenging mandate, has done an effective job at defusing tensions between communities in Abyei.

As acknowledged in a report of 10 April to the UN Security Council by the UN Secretary-General, the UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel was timely and welcome, highlighting the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlining a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personnel is ongoing. We are encouraging the implementation of recommendations from both reviews and will continue to support UNAMID, including through helping troop contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission's protection of civilian mandate. Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the newly appointed Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan are also a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.

The constitution of Sudan provides protection for the rights of different religions, but the freedom of worship for Christians has come under pressure since the secession of South Sudan. We have received an increased number of reports in recent months of intimidation and threats to Christians and to church premises both from other groups and from parts of the Sudanese security services. We are aware of reports that the Sudanese Government will no longer grant licenses for building new churches. We are concerned by recent instances of non-Sudanese Christians being asked to leave the country without justification. We have also received reports of churches being deliberately targeted in the conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states, but have not been able to verify these reports.

Embassy Officials in Khartoum, together with European Union colleagues, have met members of the Sudanese Government to raise our concerns, including in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Religious Guidance and Endowments. In particular we have urged them to investigate attacks on Christian individuals and property. We will continue to remind the Government of Sudan of their obligation to respect freedom of religion. I also met recently with Archbishop Daniel Deng Bui of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan to discuss these issues.

We have not received any information to give us cause for concern about the treatment of Christians in South Sudan.

We are concerned by the reports that Sudanese refugees in Syria have been targeted by both sides in the conflict and are facing violence including sexual violence. We are providing the United Nations Refugee Agency with up to £128 million of un-earmarked core funding over the period 2011-15 to support their work in protecting refugees worldwide, including particularly vulnerable groups.

We are concerned by the reports of murder, rape and violent attacks against Sudanese refugees living around Damascus. We are providing the United Nations Refugee Agency with up to £128 million of un-earmarked core funding over the period 2011-15 to support their work in protecting refugees worldwide, including particularly vulnerable groups.

Protecting the victims of rape and sexual violence is an important part of the UK response to the crisis, and we have already provided funding to support clinical care and counselling for refugees who have been victims of trauma and sexual assault.

We support the holding of a referendum to determine the final status of Abyei, as required by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Sudan and South Sudan. The UK will offer its support to ensure that process is a peaceful and credible one when it happens. We believe the proposal put forward by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel last September provides a basis for a lasting peace by guaranteeing the rights of both settled and nomadic peoples of Abyei. whatever the result of a referendum.

We receive regular reports of the use of aerial bombing by the Sudanese armed forces in the ongoing conflicts in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. It is often not possible to verify these reports independently. The most recent incident reported by the United Nations was the use of air strikes in response to an attack by a rebel group on Muhajeria and Labado in Darfur on 6 April.

Reports suggest that bombings are often poorly targeted and directly affect civilians. We have also received reports of deliberate attacks on civilian targets in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. If confirmed, such actions are likely to be violations of international humanitarian law, and require credible and independent investigation.

The Government made provision for debt relief for both Sudan and Zimbabwe during the 2010 spending review. The Government does not publish debt relief forecasts as they are estimates and could prejudice the UK's policy stance to the countries involved.

The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that up to 70% of people entering and registering in refugee camps in Eastern Sudan leave shortly afterwards, for a range of reasons.

UNHCR's assessment is that a high percentage of those leaving the camp do so voluntarily and travel either within or outside of Sudan in search of employment and livelihood opportunities. Some however do become victims of trafficking. This is an issue of deep concern. The UK, together with other donors, has provided support both to awareness raising and protection activities of humanitarian agencies through the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). The UK remains engaged with this important issue, working closely with the lead agencies, UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that approximately 400 to 600 persons entered refugee camps in the east of Sudan each month in the second half of 2012, with the large majority of refugees and asylum-seekers originating from Eritrea. The figure has reduced from around 2,000 persons/month in early 2012. UNHCR provides food, shelter and primary health support to new arrivals, and ensures access to basic services and protection support in the refugee camps. The UK continues to provide support to the common humanitarian fund to meet current needs within Sudan.

The UN Security Council receives regular updates on the situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, and last discussed this on 12 March. Members were told that the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North had been invited for talks by the African Union with an aim to agree a cessation of hostilities. The UK urged the Government of Sudan to participate in talks without preconditions and to grant full and independent humanitarian access. We will continue to press through the UN Security Council for both parties to attend talks as soon as possible, and without preconditions, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2046.

Ministry of Defence engagement with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool and is in line with the objectives of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy and the International Defence Engagement Strategy. This year the MOD has spent approximately £750,000 on defence education for the SAF, of which £450,000 was spent on provision of education within Sudanese military institutions. The education provided in Khartoum included English Language teaching and the delivery of the Management of Defence in the Wider Security Context (MDWSC) course. The Defence education programme for the next financial year has yet to be finalised. We currently expect it to be largely similar in nature and cost.

Our Defence engagement in Sudan contributes to wider cross-government and international efforts to promote stability, accountability and good governance across Sudan. The intent is to encourage security sector reform, with an emphasis on respect for human rights, professionalism, and governance and accountability mechanisms within the armed forces. This engagement has also allowed the UK to play a key role in supporting African Union-led negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, influencing senior Sudanese military officials to make progress on security-related post-secession issues, thereby contributing to regional stability.

The MDWSC has formed part of our Defence education programme since 2010 with three courses delivered at the Higher Military Academy in Khartoum. It is intended to increase awareness of the range of processes and techniques that may be utilised to enhance the effective governance and management of defence. The UK Defence Academy has undertaken an internal validation of each MDWSC course to determine whether it met its immediate objectives and to ensure that subsequent courses are tailored to meet identified areas of need. MOD Defence education in Sudan is also subject to scrutiny annually as part of the Conflict Pool funding process. The Deputy Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan presented on the course held in January 2013. ICRC participation helps ensure that UK-delivered education is coherent with and supports wider international efforts to encourage respect for International Humanitarian Law.

Ministry of Defence engagement with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool and is in line with the objectives of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy and the International Defence Engagement Strategy. This year the MOD has spent approximately £750,000 on defence education for the SAF, of which £450,000 was spent on provision of education within Sudanese military institutions. The education provided in Khartoum included English Language teaching and the delivery of the Management of Defence in the Wider Security Context (MDWSC) course. The Defence education programme for the next financial year has yet to be finalised. We currently expect it to be largely similar in nature and cost.

Our Defence engagement in Sudan contributes to wider cross-government and international efforts to promote stability, accountability and good governance across Sudan. The intent is to encourage security sector reform, with an emphasis on respect for human rights, professionalism, and governance and accountability mechanisms within the armed forces. This engagement has also allowed the UK to play a key role in supporting African Union-led negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, influencing senior Sudanese military officials to make progress on security-related post-secession issues, thereby contributing to regional stability.

The MDWSC has formed part of our Defence education programme since 2010 with three courses delivered at the Higher Military Academy in Khartoum. It is intended to increase awareness of the range of processes and techniques that may be utilised to enhance the effective governance and management of defence. The UK Defence Academy has undertaken an internal validation of each MDWSC course to determine whether it met its immediate objectives and to ensure that subsequent courses are tailored to meet identified areas of need. MOD Defence education in Sudan is also subject to scrutiny annually as part of the Conflict Pool funding process. The Deputy Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan presented on the course held in January 2013. ICRC participation helps ensure that UK-delivered education is coherent with and supports wider international efforts to encourage respect for International Humanitarian Law.

Ministry of Defence engagement with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) is funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool and is in line with the objectives of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy and the International Defence Engagement Strategy. This year the MOD has spent approximately £750,000 on defence education for the SAF, of which £450,000 was spent on provision of education within Sudanese military institutions. The education provided in Khartoum included English Language teaching and the delivery of the Management of Defence in the Wider Security Context (MDWSC) course. The Defence education programme for the next financial year has yet to be finalised. We currently expect it to be largely similar in nature and cost.

Our Defence engagement in Sudan contributes to wider cross-government and international efforts to promote stability, accountability and good governance across Sudan. The intent is to encourage security sector reform, with an emphasis on respect for human rights, professionalism, and governance and accountability mechanisms within the armed forces. This engagement has also allowed the UK to play a key role in supporting African Union-led negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, influencing senior Sudanese military officials to make progress on security-related post-secession issues, thereby contributing to regional stability.

The MDWSC has formed part of our Defence education programme since 2010 with three courses delivered at the Higher Military Academy in Khartoum. It is intended to increase awareness of the range of processes and techniques that may be utilised to enhance the effective governance and management of defence. The UK Defence Academy has undertaken an internal validation of each MDWSC course to determine whether it met its immediate objectives and to ensure that subsequent courses are tailored to meet identified areas of need. MOD Defence education in Sudan is also subject to scrutiny annually as part of the Conflict Pool funding process. The Deputy Director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan presented on the course held in January 2013. ICRC participation helps ensure that UK-delivered education is coherent with and supports wider international efforts to encourage respect for International Humanitarian Law.

The Government remain concerned about reports of people-trafficking in the Sinai. We have raised these concerns with the Egyptian and Israeli authorities, most recently by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), during an official visit to Israel in November 2012.

We have also raised the treatment of refugees in Sinai with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Cairo, the organisation which is delegated by the Egyptian government to deal with asylum seekers in Egypt.

We continue to press both parties to negotiate a cessation of hostilities which would enable humanitarian access to all areas. The estimated numbers of people affected (approximately 900,000), reports from agencies and from those who have fled to camps in South Sudan and Ethiopia, give us cause for great concern. Access is urgently needed for a full and independent humanitarian needs assessment. We reiterated our calls to parties to allow access in the United Nations Security Council on 12 March. We will keep the possibility of further action in the council under review should forthcoming talks between the parties not yield any progress.

Both sides are obliged by decisions of the African Union and UN Security Council to enter direct political talks on a cessation of hostilities, and we are extremely disappointed that this is yet to

happen. We hope both parties will meet in March, and we are encouraging them to attend and engage in serious talks without preconditions, focusing first on achieving a cessation of hostilities and allowing full and independent humanitarian access.

We are concerned at the case of Mr Mohamed Zain Al-Abdeen. Officials at our embassy in Khartoum are in contact with Mr Al-Abdeen!s family to discuss the details of his detention and his welfare, most recently meeting them on 6 March. We have raised his case with senior officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will continue to do so. As Professor Osman is also a dual national, we have requested consular access twice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are deeply concerned that we have had no response to these requests. Embassy consular officials will continue

to press strongly for access, and have issued another request for access on 7 March. We await their response.

We will continue to monitor this case closely, and look for further opportunities to raise our concerns about this case, as well as looking for opportunities for co-ordinating action with our international partners in Sudan. As well as raising our concern over consular access with the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum, we will also seek to raise this case with the Sudanese ambassador in London at the next available opportunity.

I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for International Development.

We are deeply concerned by the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. Around 900,000 people have been displaced or severely affected by conflict since it began in June 2011. Although limited access means that we are unable to make a detailed assessment of the humanitarian situation, evidence received, including from refugees arriving in South Sudan and Ethiopia, points to a level of food, insecurity among those remaining in the conflict zones. We are working with the UN and other agencies to ensure all options for access are explored, and are also ready to make further funding available to meet the needs of people in all areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile as soon as access is possible.