The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answers on 9th March 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to reports that over 60,000 refugees have left Ethiopia and entered Sudan following conflict in Darfur, what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) this does not destabilise Sudan, and (2) access to humanitarian aid is not affected.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, FCDO): The conflict in Tigray has had significant consequences and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, as well as impacting those that were already in need of humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia and Sudan. During his visit the Foreign Secretary commended Sudan’s leaders for their efforts to press for a peaceful resolution to the situation and for their support for refugees entering Sudan from Ethiopia. The UK has provided an additional £5 million in funding to the UN Human Rights Council and the Danish Refugee Council to address urgent needs arising from the Tigray crisis in Sudan. We continue to engage the Government of Sudan and the region on the need to find a peaceful resolution.
As a leading donor to Sudan, the UK is providing £125 million in economic and humanitarian assistance this financial year that is helping with stability and efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Sudanese. On 21 January the Foreign Secretary visited Sudan and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to support Sudan’s democratic transition, including via £40 million funding to the Sudan Family Support Programme that will help with much needed economic reforms. The Foreign Secretary also visited a World Food Programme nutrition centre in Sudan, where he saw first-hand the vital role that UK aid is playing in helping those most in need of humanitarian assistance with the provision of life-saving food assistance to vulnerable communities.
The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to ensure that Official Development Assistance-funded programmes are distributed by the government of Ethiopia without reference to the ethnicity of those accessing services.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) portfolio is consistent with legislation such as the Equality Act 2010, which includes the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). PSED ensures that the FCDO understands how different people will be affected by their activities and services are non-discriminatory and accessible to all. UK ODA provided to the Government of Ethiopia in the form of financial aid supports the delivery of specific development results. We work closely with the Government of Ethiopia to ensure and monitor that aid is provided impartially and serves to improve the conditions of intended beneficiaries, with no reference to the ethnicity of those accessing services. We are keeping the provision of aid to Ethiopia under constant review.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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