Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 October 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council Arria Meeting on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 October 2023.

The UK joins other Proliferation Security Initiative-endorsing states in committing to countering destabilising Iranian missile and drone-related activities.

Statement from the UK and other Proliferation Security Initiative-endorsing states:

The proliferation of WMD and their delivery systems continues to pose a significant threat to international security.  In this environment, Iran’s missile program remains one of the greatest challenges to international nonproliferation efforts.  Today, Iran holds the largest inventory of ballistic missiles in the Middle East, and its ballistic missile programs continue to pose a threat to countries across the region and beyond.  In addition, Iran’s provision of missile and UAV technology to its partners and proxies endangers international stability and escalates regional tension.

On October 18, 2023, the restrictions set forth in UN Security Council resolution 2231 (2015) to constrain Iran’s ballistic missile program are slated to expire. Resolution 2231 (2015) was based on the assumption that Iran would take the necessary steps towards restoring confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program. This has not happened. In this context, it is imperative that all states continue to take steps to counter Iran’s destabilizing ballistic missile-related activities through ongoing counterproliferation cooperation.

We, the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)-endorsing states listed below, will uphold the commitments enshrined in the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles by continuing to counter destabilizing Iranian missile- and UAV-related activities, consistent with all other relevant national and international authorities and related commitments.

Specifically, with regard to Iran and consistent with the PSI principles, we affirm our commitment to take all necessary measures to prevent the supply, sale, or transfer of ballistic missile-related items, materials, equipment, goods, and technology, to protect peace and stability in the region and beyond including: (1) undertake effective measures to interdict the transfer to and from Iran of missile-related materials, including those related to UAVs; (2) adopt streamlined procedures for rapid exchange of relevant information concerning Iran’s proliferation activities; (3) review and work to strengthen our relevant national legal authorities to address Iranian missile- and UAV-related issues; and (4) take specific actions in support of interdiction efforts related to Iran’s missile and UAV programs.

We further reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that domestic processes are in place to undertake such efforts. We call on all countries to ensure they have sufficient domestic legal authorities and capabilities to address Iran’s missile program, and we stand united in our determination to address Iran’s destabilizing missile-related activities.

Signing states: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 October 2023.

Foreign ministers of the US, UK and Canada, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs gave a statement welcoming the Venezuelan-led political agreement.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 October 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 October 2023.

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on the Great Lakes region.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 October 2023.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has announced a further £4.5 million in humanitarian support at a UNHCR conference on Rohingya refugees.

• UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announces further UK funding of £4.5 million to provide vital humanitarian services to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh
• Minister Trevelyan is co-convening a UNHCR conference on the Rohingya crisis in Bangkok
• Minister Trevelyan will meet Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr A K Abdul Momen, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi during the conference

The UK has extended funding to support Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh, providing an additional £4.5 million for vital humanitarian services. UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announced the funding at a UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) regional conference on the Rohingya crisis.

Minister Trevelyan is attending the conference alongside Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

The UK is committed to finding a long-term solution to the Rohingya crisis. This includes their safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar, when the conditions there allow.

Until the Rohingya can safely return to their homeland, we are committed to providing ongoing humanitarian support. That is why we are announcing £4.5 million of further UK support for protection services, healthcare and clean energy to the refugees in Bangladesh.

Today’s conference is an important opportunity to discuss sustainable solutions in Myanmar, and support for the Rohingya and their host countries.

The package of £4.5 million funding includes:

• £2.1 million provided through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for healthcare and clean energy for the Rohingya refugees and host communities
• £2 million provided through NGOs for the protection of refugees and host communities. This includes the Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council, International Rescue Committee, and Humanity and Inclusion
• £450,000 provided through the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and provide sexual and reproductive health services

Since 2017, the UK has provided £370 million to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, and nearly £30 million to support Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. This has included food, water and sanitation, healthcare and protection services that are vital for women and girls in the camps.

The UK supports peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific and continues to stand with the people of Myanmar. We reiterate our call for an end to all violence and for the protection of civilians and safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.

The UK’s sustained support for the Rohingya people demonstrates its long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, critical to the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the economy, in line with the Integrated Review Refresh published in March 2023.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Libya.

Thank you, President,

I thank SRSG Bathily for his briefing and the Permanent Representative of Japan for his update on the 1970 committee. I also welcome the participation of the Representative of Libya in this meeting.

Firstly, I want to express the UK’s deep condolences to the people of Libya following the devastating flooding in Derna. The UK is committed to supporting those affected by the flooding. We have mobilised over $6 million in support, contributing to the UN Flash Appeal, deploying UK emergency medical teams, and technical engineering support. We will continue to coordinate closely with the UN and Libyan authorities on further support required.

We welcome SRSG Bathily’s statement on the need for a national mechanism to direct recovery and reconstruction efforts. To be effective, any reconstruction efforts must be unified across eastern and western Libya, and coordinated with local, national and international partners. There must be full transparency, effective oversight, and accountability to the Libyan people.

President, the devastating floods simply reinforce our assessment that the status quo is unsustainable and will not deliver what the Libyan people need. Libya’s citizens continue to suffer from the lack of political progress. A unified and democratically-elected government is needed to respond effectively to citizen’s needs.

In this regard, we note UNSMIL’s assessment that the updated electoral laws constitute a working basis to hold elections and require the commitment of all major parties to implement. However, as SRSG has made clear, contentious issues remain. These need to be resolved through an inclusive political agreement.

Therefore, Libya’s leaders must urgently engage with SRSG Bathily, in a constructive manner, to give this process a chance of success. They should attend any UN convened meetings and make concessions in order to move Libya towards elections.

We look forward to working with Council Members on the renewal of the UNSMIL’s mandate later this month. UNSMIL is an essential partner in Libya and vital to efforts to help create a path towards free, fair and inclusive Presidential and Parliamentary elections. We hope this renewal will provide the continuity that SRSG Bathily needs to lead the Mission and steer international support towards an inclusive political settlement for Libya.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2023.

£10 million of humanitarian aid announced by the Prime Minister to support civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in response to escalating conflict.

Today [Monday 16 October] the Prime Minister has announced a further £10 million in humanitarian aid funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), in response to the escalating conflict.

He made the announcement in a statement to the House of Commons, in which he also reiterated the UK’s condemnation of Hamas’ actions in both Israel and Gaza, and called for immediate access for humanitarian organisations to be allowed to deliver life-saving aid.

This latest commitment is in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, including shortages of key goods and widespread displacement due to the conflict.

This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground.

The UK is also exploring options for moving humanitarian supplies closer to the region and is liaising with aid agencies in the region to ensure relief supplies can be distributed as quickly and effectively as possible.

Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

I’m proud that we are a longstanding and significant provider of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. And I can announce today that we are increasing our aid by a third, with an additional £10 million of support.

An acute humanitarian crisis is unfolding, to which we must respond. We must support the Palestinian people – because they’re victims of Hamas too.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

We are committed to supporting the Palestinian people – they are victims of Hamas too.

This funding will provide vital, lifesaving support to Palestinian civilians who are caught up in this conflict and are in desperate need of help.

The UN estimates that over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced so far. Prior to the recent escalation of hostilities, the UN estimated that nearly 60% of people in Gaza already needed humanitarian assistance, including over 1.5 million people in need of food assistance and 1.6 million in need of health and nutrition assistance.

Today’s announcement is a 37% uplift to the existing £27 million of UK funding this year which is already providing critical support to the region, including an extra £10 million announced by the Foreign Secretary during his visit last month. We will consider further support depending on the changing humanitarian needs on the ground.

The UK remains committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to Israel, Egypt and other international partners about opening the Rafah crossing to allow urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza.

All UK aid funding to the OPTs undergoes rigorous oversight, and no funding goes to Hamas.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2023.

On World Food Day (Monday 16 October) UK announces a partnership to encourage major food companies to improve the impact of their products on consumers’ health.

The UK has teamed up with a leading global nutrition charity to push the private sector to produce food which is good for people and the planet, Development Minister Andrew Mitchell announced today on World Food Day.

The partnership with the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) will encourage some of the largest food companies to help people at risk of malnutrition make healthier choices, particularly vulnerable populations in lower-income countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya, and Tanzania.

The UK’s £2 million package of support will allow ATNI to carry out assessments of the world’s largest food and drink companies, over a 2-year period, gathering data on factors including how healthy and sustainable their products are. They will also aim to capture for the first time how well they support and meet the needs of communities that are at risk of malnutrition and preventable deaths, specifically of women and children.

The announcement comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today announced a further £10 million in humanitarian aid for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). This is in response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, including shortages of key goods and widespread displacement due to the conflict.

The funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies to provide essential relief items and services including food, water and emergency shelter.

The UK will partner with the UAE and Somalia to host a global food security summit on 20 November sponsored by and developed with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) to galvanize action to tackle hunger and malnutrition, including through cutting edge UK funded science and technology. On the same day, the UK will publish the International Development White Paper.

Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said:

As many as 60 million children around the world suffered from severe malnutrition last year – but their pain is entirely preventable. We must act now using all the tech, science, and other tools at our disposal to stop hunger harming future generations.

Newly published statistics show that FCDO has reached 13.8 million people with food aid, cash and vouchers through bilateral humanitarian support since 2022. This helped millions of marginalised people affected by humanitarian crises such as earthquakes, famines and conflict in countries including Syria, Ukraine, Uganda, and Bangladesh. The support has provided nutritious food for children and pregnant women, vouchers that can be exchanged for things like sanitary products or household items at designated vendors, and cash that allows people to buy food.

The UK-hosted summit will explore how innovation, partnerships and the latest technological advances can ensure long-term food security and improved nutrition for people in the hardest-hit countries.

Through FCDO’s partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK is helping to find solutions to address global food and climate challenges – including developing more nutritious, resilient crop varieties and innovating to tackle pests and diseases.

Rodger Voorhies, President of the Global Growth and Opportunity Division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said:

We must find new ways of responding to climate shocks and humanitarian crises, while accelerating innovations to prevent these crises in the future. UK leadership, including the upcoming summit on food security, will be critical to advancing solutions to prevent hunger and malnutrition, while building a climate resilient agriculture sector that can support a healthier, more equitable future for all.

The Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) is an innovative way of tackling child wasting and famine in some of the most vulnerable countries in the world through match funding that doubles every Naira or Rupee that governments in those countries spend on preventing and treating child wasting. This allows countries to double their investment in essential services and supplies for the prevention, detection and treatment of child wasting.

Severe wasting, the most severe form of malnutrition, is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths of children under 5. The CNF is scaling up prevention and treatment services in countries with the greatest need such as Nigeria and Pakistan.

Anna Hakobyan, chief impact officer at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, said:

Hunger and malnutrition are devastating for children. There is an urgent need to scale up known solutions for prevention and treatment of child malnutrition through sustainable and concerted action from governments, civil society, and the private sector.

This needs to be coupled with systemic approaches to food systems that are fit for supporting a healthy planet and thriving children. We are looking forward to this important summit to galvanize action and innovations for turning the tide against rising hunger and malnutrition.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 October 2023.

UK Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon stated that, 10 years since its accession, Syria must comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention.