Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will hold discussions with Greek Orthodox leaders in (a) Iraq and (b) Kurdistan on (i) support for internally displaced people from and (ii) returning internally displaced people to (A) Mosul and (b) Nineveh.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are working with partners to ensure stabilisation efforts in liberated areas allow internally displaced persons to return to their homes safely. On 21 July, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), announced £10.5 million in additional UK funding for stabilisation in Iraq, this includes £1.75 million to support planning associated with the Mosul campaign. This announcement brings the UK’s Iraq contributions on immediate stabilisation to £9.25 million, and on explosive hazards to £7.75 million.

Since summer 2014, the UK has pledged £129.5 million of humanitarian support. This includes £50 million of additional assistance announced on 20 July 2016. To date, we have provided cash assistance, access to clean water, food, medicines and other life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable – irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity.