Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2024.

Statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military operation in the Occupied West Bank.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said:

The UK is deeply concerned by the ongoing IDF military operation in the occupied West Bank.

We recognise Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The risk of instability is serious and the need for de-escalation urgent. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The UK strongly condemns settler violence and inciteful remarks such as those made by Israel’s National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which threaten the status-quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem.

It is in no one’s interest for further conflict and instability to spread in the West Bank.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2024.

A British Embassy official attended the launch of the plan to create a water law in Guatemala, which will start this year until 2025. This national commitment was announced on 29 August by the Executive and endorsed by Congress, civil society, and indigenous peoples.

A British Embassy spokesperson said:

We congratulate the Guatemalan Government for presenting the initiative to create a water law in Guatemala.

Guatemala now joins the path travelled by many countries to preserve their natural resources while addressing the impacts of climate change.

The UK continues to work with Guatemala on this and other environmental priorities, such as the protection of biodiversity and forests, and addressing global climate challenges.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 August 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The UK, alongside Switzerland, called this humanitarian meeting after yet another alarming warning from the UN.

The situation in Gaza is intolerable and worsens with each day that passes. Over 100 hostages remain trapped in Gaza, subject to unimaginable horror. We reiterate our call for Hamas to immediately release them, and for ICRC to be granted humanitarian access.

And Palestinian children, already suffering, are now facing the imminent threat of a major polio outbreak caused by the devastation of water and sanitation services, as well as widespread malnutrition and famine risk in Gaza.

A ten-month old baby has already been paralysed by this disease – the first such case for 25 years. This is a tragedy that could have been prevented.

As we’ve heard, the UN plans to deliver vaccines as soon as this weekend. We strongly welcome Israel’s agreement for pauses on military operations so that the WHO and health agencies can deliver a safe and effective campaign. We now need to see this in action and these pauses need to be long enough to deliver the 90% coverage required.

When the campaign starts and thousands of vulnerable and unaccompanied children gather at vaccination sites, they must all be protected.

Israel’s ramping up of short-notice evacuation orders, including in areas that should provide safe refuge, is causing more chaos, again leaving Palestinians with no safe place to turn.

The UN Department of Safety and Security this week warned us that the UN too are running out of safe places for its staff. They cannot deliver desperately needed aid when IDF mass evacuation orders force them to uproot their homes and offices with just a few hours’ notice.

Israel must minimise evacuation orders and provide sufficient notice of at least 48 hours.

And despite repeated calls by this Council for deconfliction and the protection of aid operations, we continue to see appalling and unacceptable attacks on UN and aid convoys. This conflict already represents the deadliest by far for humanitarian personnel.

Just this week, the UN confirmed the IDF opened fire on a World Food Programme truck which had been fully coordinated with Israel and had UN workers inside.

Israel must take immediate steps to protect aid workers. And if its personnel are responsible for incidents, hold them accountable. All parties must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Sadly, President, it is not only in Gaza where we are witnessing violence. We are deeply concerned by rising levels of violence in the West Bank. Over 130 Palestinians, including 26 children, have been killed this month alone. We join the Secretary General in calling for urgent de-escalation.

Colleagues, the only way to bring an end to this suffering is an immediate ceasefire. We fully support the ongoing efforts of the US, Egypt and Qatar to reach an agreement on this which will get all the hostages out and significantly more aid in. We call on both Israel and Hamas to urgently take the deal on the table.

We must then see irreversible steps towards a two-state solution, the best means of ensuring long term peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 August 2024.

The UK government is providing an additional £450,000 (BDT 7 crores) of vital humanitarian assistance to support more than 36,000 people affected by flooding in eastern Bangladesh, where more than five million people have been impacted.

This builds on the £33,000 (BDT 52 lacs) of initial emergency funding released on Monday 26 August. It brings the UK government’s total support to disaster preparedness and response across Bangladesh this year to over £1,500,000 (BDT 23.4 crores) and is additional to the UK government’s ongoing support to help increase Bangladesh’s resilience to climate change.

This assistance will support people in seven of the worst affected districts: Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Moulvibazar, Khagrachari and Chattogram. Some areas are facing their most severe flooding in 40 years.

One component of this new UK support will be managed by Start Fund Bangladesh and implemented by NGOs. This will support over 36,000 people with food, cash transfers, clean water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.

A second component will be managed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and provide emergency maternal, newborn and reproductive health services to 4,500 women and adolescent girls. This includes helping to establish and run 30 mobile medical camps, which will provide essential medicines and healthcare.

Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, said

“The UK government stands beside all of those affected by the current flooding in eastern Bangladesh. I am pleased to announce the UK government is providing further humanitarian assistance to support those impacted.

“This includes £450,000 of new funding released today (BDT 7 crores) to provide vital supplies and services to over 36,000 people. This is in addition to the UK government’s responses to Cyclone Remal and flooding earlier this year in Bangladesh, and our broader support to increase Bangladesh’s resilience to climate change.”

“This contribution complements the active and ongoing response of the interim government of Bangladesh, civil society and local communities.”

Notes to editors:

1. The UK government’s response to the current flooding builds on the £530,000 (BDT 8.2 crores) provided this year in Bangladesh to support those affected by flooding in Sylhet and Cyclone Remal.
2. The UK government’s response to the current flooding in eastern Bangladesh will be managed by Start Fund Bangladesh. It will be implemented by ASHIKA Development Associates, Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS), Coastal Association for Social Transformation (COAST) Trust, UTTARAN, ActionAid Bangladesh, Caritas Bangladesh, Christian Aid, and Islamic Relief Bangladesh.
3. The UK’s ongoing support to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and CARE Bangladesh, totalling £495,000 (BDT 7.7 crores) this year, is helping coordinate responses and produce needs assessments in Bangladesh when disasters hit.
4. The UK government is also working to help increase Bangladesh’s resilience to climate change. This includes ongoing support to CARE Bangladesh, totalling £33.6m (BDT 52.4 crores) over four years. This is working to increase climate resilience for one million vulnerable people, including by helping to protect and restore two Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA), the Sundarbans Reserve Forest and Hakaluki Haor.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Colleagues, as we discuss the situation in Ukraine today, we are once again compelled to highlight the continued barbarity of President Putin’s tactics against the Ukrainian people.

Last weekend, Ukraine marked its third Independence Day since Russia’s illegal invasion. Instead of celebrating, Ukrainians were fighting for their country, their land and their families.

They are also fighting on behalf of all our countries, in defence of the principles that this institution, the United Nations, was founded: that every Member State has the right to sovereignty and territorial integrity, and borders cannot be redrawn by force.

Let us be clear: under Article 51 Ukraine has a right of self-defence. The UK and other allies fully support Ukraine in exercising that right.

President Putin thought Kyiv would fall within days. He was wrong. And Ukrainian courage continues to prove him wrong every day.

Russia is getting increasingly desperate as we heard again today. And as it does, the attacks become more cowardly.

On Monday, Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, striking numerous civilian areas. Further attacks took place on Monday night and Tuesday morning. At least 7 people were killed and many more injured. We were deeply saddened to learn that a British national, Ryan Evans, was also killed in recent attacks.

Over 35,000 civilians in Ukraine have been confirmed killed or injured since Russia’s invasion began. These most recent attacks represent continued evidence that Russia is intentionally targeting civilian energy infrastructure, risking further humanitarian crisis this coming winter.

To be clear: intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects constitute a war crime.

At the same time, the consequence of Putin’s miscalculation for the Russian people is increasingly evident.

This week’s attack alone cost Russia almost $1.3 billion. It is estimated that more than 1,000 Russian troops were either killed or wounded on Monday alone. So once again, we call on Russia to end its illegal invasion and immediately withdraw its forces.

The UK, along with our international partners, will not falter in our support for Ukraine. We will stand with the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes to secure a just and sustainable peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.

UK Statement for Universal Periodic Review Adoption of the Republic of Mauritius.

To note, this statement was not delivered.

The United Kingdom welcomes the engagement of Mauritius with the Universal Periodic Review process and its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights. We thank Mauritius for its consideration of our recent recommendations.

We welcome Mauritius’ acceptance of our recommendation to fully implement and report regularly on progress of the National Gender Policy and the National Strategy & Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.

We also welcome that Mauritius, as a Small Island Developing State, accepted our recommendation to report on the impact of climate change on its human rights situation.

The UK invites Mauritius to clarify its position on amending Section 250 of the Criminal Code. This is a vital step in fully implementing the Supreme Court’s decriminalisation of same-sex sexual relations in November 2023, which the UK welcomed, and for safeguarding the rights of LGBT people in Mauritius.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.

UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner’s report on technical cooperation in Colombia. Delivered in Geneva on 8 July 2024.

Thank you, Mr President,

First, let me thank OHCHR for their report which, despite restricted access to critical locations, has managed to highlight the serious human rights violations which continue unabated across Libya.

The participation of victim and civil society  is essential for delivering transitional justice. We therefore welcome that some victims’ representatives were engaged in capacity-building activities. However, we remain deeply concerned by reports of shrinking civic space, and call upon Libya to enable the safe and meaningful participation of civil society in transitional justice and reconciliation.

We welcome House of Representatives’ endorsement of the draft law aimed at protecting women from violence and the engagement of women in capacity-building activities. We encourage the Libyan authorities to ensure and enhance women’s safe and meaningful participation in politics and public life.

The UK would also like to thank Libya for bringing once again its Item 10 resolution renewing the OHCHR technical assistance and capacity building. It is clear from the reports of continued gross and widespread human rights violations that this is the very minimum required. Libya must stay on the Council’s agenda.

Finally, we urge the Libyan authorities to  grant OHCHR and United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) unhindered access to all locations as requested in HRC resolution 52/41.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.

The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Neil Wigan, on Tuesday 27 officially opened the 6th Annual Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) conference at KCB Leadership Centre in Nairobi. Also present at the event was Kenya Army Lieutenant, General David Kimaiyo, Director International Peace and Security Training Centre, Brigadier Joyce Sitienei and British Peace Support Training – Africa (BPST-A), Commander Col. Andy Pitt.

The three-day conference brings together security experts in the region with the aim of discussing current Counter-IED trends and threats, and highlight lessons learnt from Peace Support Operations (PSO) across the continent. Furthermore, the conference seeks to provide a platform from which the African Union (AU) can deliver direction and updates on the African Counter – Explosive Ordinance strategy.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) continue to proliferate both in number and complexity. IEDs have been used to target peacekeeping personnel, national security forces, aid workers and civilians.

Speaking during the opening of the conference, the British High Commissioner, Neil Wigan said:

Improvised Explosive Devices continue to be a critical threat across the continent, including on the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Kenyan borderlands. The severity of their impact and the speed of development by our adversaries demands that we leverage our respective expertise and work together. The UK remains committed to tackle shared threats, and support efforts to address the underlying drivers of fragility and conflict.

We congratulate Kenya for hosting this conference and we will continue working closely with the AU and the UN to provide the much-needed training and operational direction to deter the influence of IEDs, al-Shabab and other violent extreme organisations alike.

The UK’s support through the British Peace Support Team (Africa) BPST(A) is strengthening the C-IED capability of ATMIS and partner nations personnel. Since 2016, BPST(A) and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have trained more than 1,700 military and police from 22 countries in detecting and disarming IEDs.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.

UK explanation of vote delivered by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, following the Security Council vote to renew the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

With the situation on the Blue Line the most precarious it has been for years, we cannot overstate the importance of UNIFIL for calming the situation on the border.

That’s why we voted in favour today.

We commend the UN troops and staff of the Mission who are working in such difficult circumstances – risking their lives – to fulfil the mandate.

Near daily exchanges of fire across the Blue Line have killed and injured civilians. UN peacekeepers have been wounded too. This is deeply concerning and we welcome the mandate’s call for all parties to protect civilians in accordance with international law and to take all measures to respect the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers.

Over the weekend, my Foreign Minister spoke with Lebanon’s PM Mikati and Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer to reassure them of our support for security on both sides of the Blue Line.

But while the UK is supporting Lebanon’s security and stability through its government and Armed Forces, Iran is sowing further conflict and chaos by supplying advanced weaponry to Hizballah.  We urge Iran to stand down their proxy and we call on Hizballah to deescalate immediately.

Only a political solution can deliver the peace we so desperately need.

As my Foreign Minister said earlier this month: a widening of this conflict is in nobody’s interest – the consequences could be catastrophic. One miscalculation is all it takes. All parties need to engage immediately with diplomatic efforts based on the principles set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

First, this month we have seen yet another series of attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups against Coalition forces in Syria. Malign actors continue to seek to capitalise on the instability to secure their influence and in turn destabilise the region.

Violence by regime forces, backed by Iran, against the Syrian Democratic Forces along the Euphrates River risks further destabilising a country already marred by conflict. This instability will continue to play out across the borders in Lebanon and in Iraq.

Second, a number of anniversaries this month have been a stark reminder of the devastating impact of the conflict on the lives of Syrians. It is 11 years since the Assad regime used chemical weapons to kill over 1,400 people in Ghouta.

A decade has passed since Daesh began committing genocide against the Yazidis. I want to highlight the plight of missing Yazidi women and of the families that have been torn apart by these horrendous acts.

As we mark the International Day of the Disappeared, we recall that forcibly disappeared persons account for around five percent of the total Syrian population. All parties must engage in good faith as the Independent Institution on Missing Persons is established to clarify the fate of the missing.

Third, President, despite the deep trauma of these horrific crimes, the Syrian people have continued to demonstrate bravery and resolve in demanding freedom and democratic rights. There has now been a year of protests in Sweida standing up to and demanding change from the Assad regime.

The demonstrations serve as a dramatic testimony to the unresolved issues that first drove people to the streets in 2011. We continue to call on the Assad regime to realise the protestors’ demands for political, civil, and human rights. And to end the systematic subjugation of Syrians fairly seeking freedom, democracy and change.

President, ultimately it is within the Assad regime’s gift to implement UNSCR 2254.  This offers a pathway out of conflict that would protect the rights of all Syrians. The United Kingdom honours the perseverance of those bravely seeking truth, justice, freedom and stability.