Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2025.

Joint statement on behalf of 29 donors on the situation in and around El Fasher, Sudan.

“As fighting continues unabated in North Darfur, Sudan, hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped in and around the city of El Fasher besieged by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). All trade routes and supply lines have been cut off, and humanitarian organisations have been unable to deliver lifesaving aid for over a year. Even communal kitchens, which have been feeding civilians across the country on the frontline of the humanitarian response, have had to shut down due to food shortages. The price of food staples is surging, leaving families unable to afford basic items even when they are available. People are starving as a result: famine was confirmed in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps close to El Fasher in August 2024, has spread since and is expected to spread further during the current lean season. Rising cases of cholera exacerbate the worst effects of malnutrition. Over 60 people have already reportedly died from malnutrition during the past week.

“The civilians of North Darfur – especially women and girls – have been exposed to horrific violations, including alarming rates of conflict-related sexual violence, since the onset of the conflict in April 2023. Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including markets and hospitals, have left the population with no access to healthcare. Recent reports shed light on the large-scale and repeated violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by the RSF in Zamzam IDP camp in April 2025, where over 1,500 civilians are said to have been killed. In El Fasher, civilians are reportedly being killed as they try to exit the city. The recent attack on Abu Shouk IDP camp killed at least 40 civilians according to local sources. The International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor stated in July 2025 that there are reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been, and continue to be, committed in Darfur.

“Similar famine-like conditions and dreadful attacks persist in other areas of Sudan, especially in the Kordofans due to brutal hostilities across the states and the ongoing siege of Kadugli.

“This cannot continue.

“All parties to the conflict are responsible for the protection of civilians in Darfur and Kordofan. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF made clear commitments in the Jeddah Declaration (May 2023) to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We urge all parties to demonstrate their compliance with this commitment by guaranteeing the immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to populations in need as well as protecting and preventing violations against civilians, in particular women and children and including humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure at all times.

“To this end, we specifically call on the RSF and their allies to halt the siege on El Fasher, as requested under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024). We urge the RSF to grant a humanitarian pause for rapid, safe and unconditional humanitarian access to the people in need and safe passage of civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis, in the direction they choose.

“We further call on the SAF to renew their agreement to this humanitarian pause in El Fasher and put in place the necessary approvals to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations.

“We reiterate our call on the SAF to permanently open the Adré border crossing point for humanitarian actors, to lift bureaucratic impediments and to allow timely delivery of humanitarian and basic needs assistance across the country.

“We call on all parties to urgently allow UN-led convoys and sustained UN presence, including senior international staff, across Sudan’s territory, especially in the Darfurs and Kordofans, to enable the rapid scale up of humanitarian assistance to the population in need.

“We stand with the people of Sudan and humanitarian organisations – local and international – who are working tirelessly and under extremely challenging conditions to assist them. Civilians must be protected, and humanitarian access must be granted. Accountability must be ensured.”

This statement has been signed by:

Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management

Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain

Åsmund Aukrust, Minister of International Development of Norway

Lord Collins of Highbury, Minister for Africa of the United Kingdom

Gabija Grigaitė-Daugirdė, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania

Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), Canada

Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone, State Secretary for Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Diana Janse, State Secretary for International Development Cooperation of Sweden

Mariin Ratnik, Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs of Estonia

Dominik Stillhart, Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, Deputy Director General of Swiss Development Cooperation

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czechia, the Republic of Finland, Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 August 2025.

The visit highlighted progress made through a UK project which supports sustainable development and environmental conservation in southern Petén.

UK Ambassador to Guatemala, Juliana Correa, visited the community of San Miguel in Poptún on 13 August, where the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF) is investing approximately £16,000 to support local initiatives.

The project has provided piped water access to 38 families (benefiting around 210 people), supported environmental protection systems for 21 families, and helped 14 families revive traditional bean cultivation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wildfire risks.

During the visit, the ambassador learned about community conservation efforts, including more than 50 environmental monitoring tours, maintaining firebreaks across an area of 551 hectares, and strengthening local governance in collaboration with Guatemala’s National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).

San Miguel has been a benchmark in the region, promoting cooperation agreements that have inspired other communities to follow similar processes. The United Kingdom reaffirms its commitment to working alongside Guatemala to address the effects of climate change, protect biodiversity, and combat poverty.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 August 2025.

A landmark UK programme has successfully concluded after delivering major reforms across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The UK’s Sub-National Governance Programme ran from 2019 to 2025, unlocking over £1.9 billion in public finance through improved planning, budgeting, and revenue mobilisation.

Working closely with provincial governments, the programme has helped to achieve savings to reinvest into other public services. For example, it helped the Government of Punjab to develop a comprehensive pensions reform plan. This included the introduction of a new pensions scheme where both the employer and employee pay in, which is expected to save the Government of Punjab PKR 2.7 trillion over the next 30 years.

Reforms through the programme have also directly supported people’s livelihoods. In Punjab, 35 million people’s social and economic data was collected, meaning the government can now better target urgent cash assistance and food subsidies. The programme helped design and rollout social protection initiatives such as Ba-Himmat Buzurg, which offers elderly people with no source of income financial assistance, and the Himmat Card which provides financial support for people with disabilities in Punjab. In KP, it helped overhaul waste management, introducing sustainable door-to-door waste collection which is now being scaled up across the province.

British High Commission Development Director, Sam Waldock, said:

This programme shows what is possible when strong partnerships come together to support long-term reform, changing people’s lives. We’ve strengthened institutions, improved service delivery, and helped Pakistan unlock more of its resources to finance its own development. That has led to direct improvements to the day to day lives of millions- from helping people to access essential cash assistance, to creating waste management systems which makes their surroundings cleaner and more hygienic.

The UK’s work on governance reform in Pakistan will continue. In collaboration with UN Development Programme, the UK will continue to focus on sustained institutional reform and improved public financial management. Several key initiatives, including further reforms to provincial pension schemes, will be carried forward in the UK’s new National Governance Programme.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 August 2025.

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

First, it is now one month since the latest Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which resulted in the tragic loss of life of at least four crew members.

The UK reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of ongoing Houthi attacks and calls for the immediate release of those taken hostage.

As we highlighted in yesterday’s high-level open debate, maritime security must be safeguarded. I reaffirm the UK’s support for Resolution 2722 and the principle of freedom of navigation.

The Yemen Maritime Security Partnership, or YMSP, is an essential mechanism for international cooperation with the aim of protecting Yemen’s waters, safeguarding maritime trade, combating illicit activities and rebuilding the capabilities of the Yemen Coastguard.

The UK is proud to co-host the inaugural YMSP High-Level Conference on 16 September in Riyadh, alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We call upon our international partners to join and support this initiative.

Second, the UK commends the recent interdiction of 750 tonnes of weapons intended for the Houthis, by forces aligned to the Government of Yemen.

This illicit transfer of weapons directly undermines the stability of Yemen and the wider region, and is in clear breach of the arms embargo.

We call upon all Member States to ensure full compliance with Resolution 2216.

Third, as we’ve heard today, Yemen faces worsening food insecurity.

18.1 million people, over half the population, are projected to experience increasing food insecurity in the next six months, some areas face catastrophic levels of food insecurity for the first time in almost two years.

We need quick and collaborative action from the international community in order to reverse this trajectory, and to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

The UK once again reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of aid workers arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.

These detentions are making humanitarian access more difficult and dangerous at a time when the needs of Yemenis are rapidly increasing.

President, the UK remains committed to supporting the efforts of the Special Envoy and his team in charting a path towards long-term stability and security.

It is what the people of Yemen and the wider region need and deserve.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 August 2025.

Joint statement on behalf of 32 partners on aid to Gaza and restrictions facing NGOs.

Joint statement:

The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised.

However, due to restrictive new registration requirements, essential international NGOs may be forced to leave the OPTs imminently which would worsen the humanitarian situation still further. We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating. Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners. All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment. Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected.

We are grateful to the US, Qatar and Egypt for their efforts in pushing for a ceasefire and pursuing peace. We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.

This statement has been signed by:

• The Foreign Ministers of Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
• The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 August 2025.

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

The United Kingdom commends Panama’s leadership in upholding international maritime standards through its work to remove ships from its registry that fall short of international regulations.

We further recognise the strategic importance of the Panama Canal to maritime security and flows in international trade.

As a fellow maritime nation, the United Kingdom emphasises the importance of keeping trade routes open and secure. They are vital to our shared economic prosperity.

We reaffirm our commitment to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework for all activities in the ocean and seas.

But we note with deep concern that the rule of law and the safety of our sea lanes is being eroded.

This includes reckless Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which the United Kingdom unequivocally condemns.

We call for the immediate cessation of such attacks and full respect for freedom of navigation.

As we’ve heard from the briefers, other illicit activities, including illegal fishing, smuggling and illegal migration, pose further threats to maritime security.

The United Kingdom is implementing programmes to target organised crime groups and disrupt such activities taking place across maritime routes and seaways.

We are also supporting capacity building and the strengthening of governance at seaports.

Tackling these challenges means working with international partners across all regions.

This includes collaboration through the International Maritime Organisation as the pre-eminent global forum for maritime issues.

For our part, the United Kingdom is leading efforts together with the IMO, Member States and industry to develop a Maritime Cyber Code to enhance the resilience of ports, ships and the digital ecosystem.

President, collective action is vital to secure the safety of our seas for future generations.

The United Kingdom stands ready to work with all Member States in support of this shared objective.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 August 2025.

British investment boost in Ukraine to support security and prosperity of both countries.

• new UK package of support for Ukraine’s immediate and longer-term needs at Ukraine Recovery Conference
• UK and Ukraine conclude historic deal for Thales Air Defence missiles, boosting British growth and jobs and keeping Ukraine in the fight
• UK also confirms up to £283 million in bilateral assistance for Ukraine over the next year

Two hundred British jobs will be created and another 700 safeguarded in a major defence deal between the UK and Ukraine to be signed at this year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC).

The jobs at Thales in Belfast come as the UK and Ukraine successfully conclude the largest export credit agency-backed deal in Ukraine.

Supported by a £2.5 billion guarantee with a 19-year financing agreement, the funds can now be released. This enables the delivery of more than 5,000 Air Defence missiles from British business Thales – in what is not only a major boost to the UK’s defence capabilities but will also keep Ukraine in the fight, boosting their defence against Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.

Representing the Prime Minister at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Minister for Exports Gareth Thomas will formally sign the agreement with the Government of Ukraine, marking a key milestone in the UK-Ukraine defence cooperation.

The deal delivers on this Government’s Plan for Change, by spending more on defence and creating jobs we will keep the country safe and boost economic growth.

In a speech at the conference in Rome, the Deputy Prime Minister will also reaffirm the UK’s bilateral assistance to Ukraine for the financial year 2025 to 2026 of up to £283 million. This will keep the country in the fight and ensure Ukrainians living through Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion have access to vital support across humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, reform, recovery and reconstruction needs.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:

As we continue to witness the enduring strength of the Ukrainian people, the UK stands by their side to provide the assistance their country needs to not only stay in the fight, but to rebuild and recover.

This announcement underlines our continued support for Ukraine – boosting their air defences against devastating drone and missile attacks and supporting the critical work to reconstruct this nation and provide the hope that they need.

This will also provide skilled jobs in the UK and is all part of our Plan for Change – bolstering the UK defence industry and strengthening our international ties.

Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports Gareth Thomas said on the Thales deal:

This landmark agreement is a powerful example of how British expertise is supporting Ukraine’s defence and recovery while creating high-quality jobs at home.

By unlocking UKEF-backed finance, we’re enabling the delivery of vital equipment to Ukraine and strengthening our own defence industrial base.

It’s a clear demonstration of our Plan for Change in action – backing British business, boosting exports, and standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.”

The UK will provide up to £10.5 million for the Governance Reform Programme and up to £1 million in support of Ukraine’s Green Transition Office in financial year 2025 to 2026 to help Ukraine reform for the future. £10.5 million will go towards efforts on rule of law, justice and anti-corruption while £1 million will fund work on green transition and energy, both supporting Ukraine on its path to becoming a prosperous, green and modern European nation.

During the conference, British International Investment (BII) will also confirm €30 million for MHP, a leading Ukrainian agribusiness. MHP employs over 30,000 people in Ukraine, with more than 40% being women. The loan will help them to safeguard jobs and boost resilience in the food and agriculture sectors during Russia’s full-scale invasion. MHP, Ukraine’s largest poultry and processed meat producer, exports to over 70 countries.

Underpinning much of these efforts, the UK will endorse the Government of Ukraine’s insurance agreement. This initiative seeks to make insurance more affordable and widely accessible for businesses, including those in the UK, helping to derisk their investments into Ukraine.

The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine win the war and the peace, emerging as a stronger, more prosperous and free nation, resilient to Russian threats. Our 100 Year Partnership, alongside the commitments made at URC, reaffirm the UK’s iron-clad support for Ukraine now and into the future.

In total, the UK has committed £18.3 billion for Ukraine with £13 billion in military support and £5.3 billion in non-military support.

Background:

• view more information on the UK’s overall support to Ukraine
• the £10.5 million and £1 million funding commitments sit within the £283 million for the financial year 2025 to 2026
• the UK and Ukraine will sign the UKEF financing agreement on Thales, with representatives from both governments formalising the deal’s conclusion at URC
• the BII investment will be funded from capital the UK government has already provided £250 million to support BII’s expansion into Ukraine
• view more information on the MHP website
• further information on the insurance agreement is on the Government of Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture website

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 August 2025.

High Commissioner Neil Wigan will be leaving Kenya at the end of August to take up a new position of Director General Strategy and Delivery at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.

• British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan OBE, will be leaving his post after two years in the role.
• Mr Wigan leaves for a promotion to Director General Strategy and Delivery within the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan OBE, announced today his departure from Nairobi at the end of this month after two years in Nairobi.

Reflecting on his time in Kenya, the High Commissioner said:

I am extremely sorry to be leaving Kenya after a whirlwind two years. The Kenya-UK partnership has gone from strength to strength – whether in trade, investment, technology, innovation or cultural links, benefitting both countries and peoples.

Since I arrived in 2023, the close partnership between our two great nations has seen the historic visit of His Majesty King Charles III, the signing of the new Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership, Kenyan marines trained by the UK, vital infrastructure investments including Nairobi Railway City and so much more.

I have also seen first hand the incredible potential of Kenya and her people. From taking part in a Maasai elders meeting, to seeing how UK support is helping establish women-led businesses in Wajir, from the tea plantations of Bomet County to the Silicon Savannah, I’ve no doubt that Kenya’s future is bright. I have visited most of Kenya’s counties – I am sorry not have visited them all.

Kenya and the UK are going far, together, and it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey.  Asanteni sana na kwaherini.

Mr Wigan leaves Kenya to take up the new position of Director General Strategy and Delivery at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 August 2025.

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

The United Kingdom requested this meeting alongside Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia in response to the Government of Israel’s decision to further escalate its military operations in Gaza.

As my Prime Minister said, this decision is wrong, and we urge the Government of Israel to reconsider immediately.

Expanding military operations will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict. It will not secure the release of the hostages. It will only deepen the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

This is not a path to resolution, it is a path to more bloodshed.

President, just this week the Security Council heard harrowing testimony from Ilay David, the brother of Evyatar David who was cruelly taken by Hamas on 7 October.  He has been held hostage in appalling and inhuman conditions for over 21 months.

The Security Council has in its four resolutions since 7 October called for the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages. I repeat that call today.

We are clear that Hamas must disarm and can play no future part in the governance of Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.

But, as many family members of the hostages have warned, this decision by the Israeli Government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages. Instead, it risks further endangering their lives.

This escalation will only exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, uprooting a million more people and forcing them into dangerously overcrowded, unsanitary and under-supplied areas.

In Gaza, children and babies are suffering from starvation.  Hundreds of civilians have been killed trying to access basic food supplies. This inhumanity cannot be justified.

The partial aid access Israel granted in late July has proven woefully inadequate.

We have a clear message for Israel: urgently and permanently lift all restrictions on aid delivery. Yesterday, the UK announced a further $11.4 million for OCHA’s Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund.

It is vital the UN and established humanitarian partners can operate safely and at scale, in line with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

And Israel must not bar humanitarian NGOs from their essential work, through unreasonable and arbitrary registration requirements.  All land routes must be opened for essential supplies, including food, baby formula, medicine, shelter, fuel and clean water.

President, a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction.

We urge the parties to engage in good faith negotiations and show political will to secure a ceasefire deal and commit to a path to peace.

The recent conference on the two-state solution last week was a powerful demonstration of international resolve to achieve a brighter future for the region.

The UK will continue working with our partners on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution.

This is the only way to guarantee Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 August 2025.

Joint statement delivered by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Slovenian Permanent Representative to the UN, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.

We, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, have called for today’s urgent meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza.

We condemn the Government of Israel’s decision to further expand its military operations in Gaza.

This plan risks violating international humanitarian law. We call on Israel to urgently reverse this decision and not to implement it.

And we reiterate that any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.

Expanding military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering.

Just this week, the Security Council heard a harrowing testimony from Ilay David, the brother of Evyatar David who was cruelly taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October and has been held in atrocious conditions in Gaza for over 22 months.

His briefing was a stark reminder that the suffering of the remaining hostages and their families must end.
The Security Council has consistently called for the unconditional and immediate release of all the hostages.

And we are clear that Hamas must disarm and play no future part in the governance of Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.

But this decision by the Israeli Government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages and risks further endangering their lives.

It will also worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and risks further death and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians.

The IPC has warned that famine is unfolding in Gaza. Children are dying from starvation.

Hunger is so severe that desperate civilians are taking the risk of getting killed at aid distribution sites in order to feed their families.

This is a manmade crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza.

We have a clear message for Israel: lift restrictions on aid delivery to allow the UN and established humanitarian partners to operate safely and at scale, in line with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

It is also vital that international NGOs can operate in Gaza. Israel’s unreasonable visa and registration requirements must be removed and all land routes opened for essential supplies, including food, baby formula, medicine, fuel and clean water.

After 22 months of suffering in Gaza, now is the time for diplomacy, not more war.

The ceasefire earlier this year showed what can be achieved when there is political will. It ended the bloodshed. Hostages were reunited with their loved ones. Effective humanitarian aid reached those in desperate need.

The international conference on the two-state solution last month, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was a powerful demonstration of the strength of international resolve to secure a better future and deliver long-term peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the region.

We call on both parties to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, and to urgently advance efforts to achieve a two-state solution.