Tag: Foreign Office

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

UK Minister for Development visits Niger and announces support for vulnerable communities in the Sahel.

• new UK funding will support vulnerable communities in the Sahel who are suffering from rising violence, displacement and food insecurity
• the commitment was made by the UK Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, during a 3-day visit to Niger – his first visit to the Sahel region since his appointment
• the FCDO is launching the Sahel Regional Fund, alongside leading NGOs this month to deliver effective, evidence-led assistance to the region

The UK is teaming up with leading local and international NGOs to deliver protection, family planning and vital humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities across the Sahel.

This new fund, the Sahel Regional Fund (SRF), will provide urgent life-saving aid and lasting, dignified solutions to people displaced by conflict and violence in hotspots of humanitarian need in the Sahel region, which covers countries from Chad to Mauritania.

UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell kicked off the fund during a visit to Niger this week with an opening £33 million commitment from the UK up to 2026.

The Sahel is facing growing instability and humanitarian need from conflict, climate change, extremism and high food prices – exacerbated by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine – and Niger is a country on the frontline of this regional challenge.

The Sahel Regional Fund will help to meet this challenge, enabling national and international NGOs to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable in humanitarian hotspots of the region. In Niger, this includes parts of Tillaberi, Dosso, Tahoua, Maradi and Diffa.

It will build the capacity of local NGOs who are directly engaging with the people most affected, understanding the realities on the ground and adapting approaches to suit their long-term needs and improve their future prospects. By funding projects over multiple years, partners are able to build relationships and improve direct communications over the long-term with these local populations.

Following his visit, UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said:

The introduction of our Sahel Regional Fund aims to transform how we deliver aid across a troubled region, informed by the reality on the ground. It empowers local organisations and targets the most vulnerable in a way that listens to them and delivers lasting impact, and we hope others with follow us in this.

By addressing the root causes of this growing regional instability, we can look to harness the true potential of our positive relationship with Niger as a vital regional partner.

That includes continuing to increase access to education, improving lives, and preparing communities to mitigate against future impacts of climate change. The aid we provide today, helps ensure these communities can prosper and thrive tomorrow.

The International Development Minister’s 3-day visit to Niger highlighted the breadth of the UK offer across the country, providing long-term support to Nigeriens.

He saw how alongside humanitarian interventions, the partnership is increasing access to education, improving lives and prospects for Nigeriens, and preparing communities to mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change.

During the visit, Andrew Mitchell met with his Nigerien government counterparts including President Bazoum to discuss Nigerien leadership on climate, security, and crucially education ahead of Thursday’s (16 February) Education Cannot Wait Summit in Geneva.

Ahead of this, the Minister visited an Education Cannot Wait-funded school in Ouallam, Niger, which is supporting children to receive education despite ongoing regional conflict which continues to devastate livelihoods and communities.

Andrew Mitchell was also able to see first-hand our work with partners, including a Marie Stopes International (MSI) family planning community site, seeing how the UK is supporting family planning services through the Marie Stopes Ladies scheme.

He also highlighted to his Nigerien counterparts the UK’s work with the Nigerien security forces to keep people safe, through training, including on countering the threat from improvised explosive devices and responding to conflict related sexual violence.

UK support to Niger has focused on ensuring our interventions can go further, improving planning for and anticipation of recurrent shocks and targeted community interventions, meaning greater long-term impact.

UK Aid to Niger totalled £80 million last financial year.

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

New UK funding for Education Cannot Wait (ECW) will provide safe learning spaces, teaching materials and support for world’s most vulnerable children.

• funding for Education Cannot Wait (ECW) will provide safe learning spaces, teaching materials and psychological and social support to the world’s most vulnerable children
• around the world, 222 million children and adolescents affected by war, disaster and displacement need education support
• since 2017, ECW has supported over 30 crisis-affected countries and reached 7 million children – most recently announcing $7 million in response to the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria
• we refuse to give up on the 222 million children and adolescents affected by the horrors of war, disaster and displacement

Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell will today (Thursday 16 February) announce UK funding to help provide education for 20 million children living in humanitarian crises around the world, from Ukraine to Syria.

The £80 million contribution to the work of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) over the next 4 years will help to keep children safe and offer them education during extreme weather events, conflicts and pandemics. ECW is the UN global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.

Since its inception in 2017, the fund has given multi-year support to over 30 crisis-affected countries, trained 87,000 teachers and reached 7 million children and adolescents, of whom 48% were girls. In response to the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria, ECW has recently announced $7 million in funding to provide vital support for vulnerable children and young people to keep them safe and learning.

The UK is proud to be a co-founding member of ECW and remains a leading donor. These contributions reflect the UK’s commitment to prioritising education in emergencies, including for girls and the most vulnerable.

Andrew Mitchell will make the announcement at a financing conference for ECW in Geneva.

Andrew Mitchell said:

I’ve just returned from Niger where I saw how education is transforming the lives of young people who have been displaced by conflict and food shortages.

Educating children and young people affected by crises is one of the biggest challenges we face – from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, to the recent devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria and not forgetting a generation of girls being cruelly banned from attending school in Afghanistan.

We are renewing our commitment to education in emergencies because we refuse to give up on the 222 million children and adolescents affected by the horrors of war, disaster and displacement. Education can provide a lifeline through to a better future.

Today the UK is pledging £80 million over the 4-year period 2023 to 2026 to ECW, as part of a £90 million package to provide support for education in crises. ECW aims to support 20 million children in crisis affected countries during this period.

As well as supporting ECW the UK is investing in other partners to ensure expert education support can be quickly mobilised in the event of a crisis – such as responding to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, says:

This ground-breaking pledge from the United Kingdom is a crucial step towards making good on our global promise to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals in armed conflicts, climate disasters and forced displacement: for the 222 million crisis-affected children and adolescents who urgently need quality education. This is our investment today to empower them and build a better world for generations to come.

Children in fragile and conflict-affected countries are more than twice as likely to be out of school than those in countries not affected by conflict. A recent study by ECW estimates that 222 million children affected by crises need educational support.

Girls are particularly affected and are at higher risk of sexual violence and trafficking. In crisis-affected countries, only 27% of refugee girls are enrolled in secondary school.

The UK has a longstanding commitment to support global education needs, spanning early years, primary and secondary education, to higher education and skills.

Today’s pledge will  make an important contribution to the G7 global objective to get 40 million more girls in school by 2026 and 20 million girls reading by the age of 10 or the end of primary school. The UK secured agreement to these key global targets during its Presidency of the G7 in 2021.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2023.

The UK is committing a further package of support to address urgent humanitarian needs in Turkey and Syria.

As the situation on the ground moves into in a new phase, from rescue to recovery, the UK is committing a further package of support to address urgent humanitarian needs in Turkey and Syria.

The £25 million in new overseas aid will fund additional emergency relief, such as tents and blankets for families made homeless in freezing conditions, and the ongoing deployment of world-class UK medical expertise through the joint MoD–FCDO Field Hospital established in Turkoglu.

It will support the work of the UN and aid agencies on the ground in Syria, helping communities ravaged by war and this national disaster, as well as the recovery effort in Turkey led by the government. There will be a particular focus on protecting women and girls, including by helping with childbirth and midwifery and reducing the risk of gender-based violence for communities who have been displaced.

This builds on the UK’s early response to the earthquake when we deployed a UK International Search and Rescue Team in Turkey, increased support to the White Helmets in north west Syria and rapidly delivered shipments of life-saving items such as emergency shelter, medical equipment and blankets.

The joint MoD–FCDO Field Hospital, which includes an emergency department, 24/7 operating theatre and accompanying medical staff, is providing lifesaving medical care working side-by-side with Turkish medics.

UK funding is helping the UN, International and NGO partners to ensure that aid reaches the millions in need, including 4.9 million who need cross-border aid in north west Syria following the devastating earthquakes.

UK Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell said:

As this evolving situation transitions from rescue to recovery, we are seeing thousands of families left homeless by the earthquake, packed into crowded tents or lined up in the streets queuing for hot meals.

The UK’s priority is to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people who need it most and that is why I am pleased to announce this additional funding today, which will be so vital in ensuring those affected can begin to rebuild their lives.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2023.

This will make it easier for aid agencies to operate and facilitate earthquake relief efforts in Syria, without breaching sanctions that target Assad’s regime.

• The UK has issued two General Licences, building on existing humanitarian provisions, to further facilitate humanitarian relief efforts in Syria following last week’s earthquakes.
• These Licences will strengthen the timely and effective delivery of relief efforts by removing the need for individual licence applications.
• The UK remains committed to holding the Assad regime accountable, including through comprehensive sanctions regulations, for its heinous crimes against the Syrian people.

The UK is taking steps to make it easier for aid agencies to operate in Syria without breaching the sanctions that target Assad’s regime. These Sanctions General Licences will further facilitate earthquake relief efforts in Syria.

The UK’s sanctions regulations already contain robust provisions for humanitarian efforts. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) is acting to further facilitate relief efforts in Syria by issuing a General Licence. The General License will authorise activities which would otherwise have been prohibited by the asset freeze for specified groups or organisations, and their service providers.

The Export Control Joint Unit’s (ECJU) General Licence will extend the protection offered by the current humanitarian exception to petroleum prohibitions for UK-funded persons to all those conducting earthquake relief efforts in Syria and Turkey. This covers persons delivering the specified activities and their service providers.

Minister of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell commented:

UK sanctions do not target humanitarian aid, food, or medical supplies, but we recognise that the current requirements for individual licencing are not always practical during a crisis response.

After significant engagement with partners and NGOs, these General Licences build on existing humanitarian provisions, and should provide extra clarity to actors on the ground responding to this devastating earthquake.

UK sanctions will continue to target the Assad regime and its backers, maintaining pressure in order to encourage an end to the violent repression of civilians in Syria. They are targeted against entities responsible for some of the worst crimes, including murder, chemical weapons use, and the systematic torture of civilians.

There are notification and record keeping requirements attached to the General Licence issued by ECJU. Both licences are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Further detail on General Trade Licences is on gov.uk. Further detail on the General Licence regarding the asset freeze is on gov.uk.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2023.

Ian Stubbs says Russia is suffering its highest casualty rate since the invasion began, but Putin could stop his needless sacrifice of thousands more Russians.

Thank you, Mr Chair. A year ago, we reported to this Forum that Russia’s military build-up had amassed approximately 130,000 troops positioned along Ukraine’s borders and in illegally annexed Crimea.

Russia had deployed: the Iskander-K offensive ballistic missile systems in range of key Ukrainian cities and infrastructure; extensive air defence assets including the S-400 and Pantsir missile systems; and large numbers of air assets including the Su-25, Su-35S, Ka-52 and Mi-8 on a scale not normally seen as part of exercises.

Russia had also imposed unprecedented access restrictions over large areas of the Black Sea and was further bolstering its Black Sea Fleet with reinforcements from other Fleets; including increasing the number of landing ships by more than double.

In the face of this massive military build-up and Russia’s escalating rhetoric, Ukraine had demonstrated remarkable restraint. We had seen commendable attempts by Ukraine, and others, to reduce the risk of miscalculation and de-escalate tensions through two initiations of the Vienna Document Risk Reduction mechanism. But Russia refused to engage, insisting that it saw “no grounds for applying the procedures of the Vienna Document Paragraph 16”. Russia’s argument that the risk reduction mechanism did not apply whilst at the same time presiding over the biggest military build-up in Europe since the Cold War, was a clear indication that Putin had already taken the decision that Russia would invade its sovereign neighbour.

Mr Chair, we also know that the lies, deception and disruptive activity from our Russian colleagues aimed to deliberately undermine efforts by participating States to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. The Russian delegation’s duplicitous behaviour endures nearly a year later.

Last week, in an interview with Russian State media, our Russian colleague lamented that other delegations were “scrutinising” Russia’s “previous statements, looking for contradictions” – we do not have to look far. In this Forum exactly a year ago, he stated that Ukraine was “stubbornly continuing to impose…an unsubstantiated idea about some kind of Russian aggression”. Russia then invaded Ukraine. Last week, he said that Russia had “made every effort to ensure military-political stability in Europe”, but Russia refused to engage in the very mechanisms designed by this organisation to reduce risk, de-escalate tension and restore stability. When our Russian colleague persists in using this Forum to peddle the Kremlin’s disinformation and propaganda, the contradictions are clear for all to see.

Mr Chair, over the past two weeks, Russia has reportedly suffered its highest rate of casualties since the first week of the invasion of Ukraine. Russian military leaders have now likely deployed the vast majority of the reservists called up under the so-called “partial mobilisation” and Wagner announced on 09 February that it had halted its prisoner recruitment scheme. The options for Putin and his military leaders to sustain their war of choice appear to be limited: continue to deplete their forces; scale back their objectives; or conduct a further form of mobilisation. But there is another option: Putin could end this war now, withdraw all Russian forces from Ukrainian sovereign territory, and in doing so, stop his needless sacrifice of thousands more ordinary Russian people.

Mr Chair, in the face of Russia’s barbaric invasion and brutal actions, we must all recognise that giving Ukraine the support it needs to defend itself and push Russia out of its sovereign territory is the swiftest and only path to a just and lasting peace. In the UK-Ukraine Joint Declaration we signed with Ukraine on 8 February, we reaffirmed our countries’ commitment to stand side by side in the face of Russia’s aggression.

The UK is working with Ukraine to help develop their longer-term force structures and capabilities, to reverse Russian gains and build towards a deterrence force of the future. We will support our Ukrainian friends as they fight to liberate their homeland. Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence will be fully restored. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2023.

The first meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in 2023 will focus on how to sustain and accelerate military support for Ukraine.

The acceleration of military support to Ukraine will be the key focus of a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels tomorrow (Weds).

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace arrived in Brussels today for the first NATO Defence Ministers meeting of 2023. Ministers are expected to discuss how to sustain and accelerate support for Ukraine, drive NATO’s military transformation and modernisation, and Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO.

Today, the Defence Secretary had bilateral meetings with his Romanian and French counterparts as well as meeting his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.

The UK is committed to standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Alongside allies, we continue to provide training and equipment to the country, with the ability to surge that support should Ukraine come under threat. By making this commitment we will strengthen Ukraine’s position in negotiations, guard its long-term sovereignty and enable Ukraine to deter by denial.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:
I am very pleased to be back at NATO to continue the vital work to support Ukraine, as well as meeting with my defence counterparts.

Our important work is ongoing, the UK and our Allies will stand in solidarity with Ukraine for as long as it takes

Defence Ministers from Germany, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the UK will also review future cooperation on NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe. The UK leads the eFP battlegroup in Estonia, where 1,500 soldiers are currently on a major exercise, Exercise Winter Camp, with 40 main battle tanks and 100 armoured fighting vehicles from across three countries taking part.

The meeting comes just days after President Zelenksyy made a historic visit to the UK to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and see first-hand how the UK was supporting Ukraine through military training and lethal aid donations.

As one of the leading contributors to NATO, the UK will take on leadership of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in January 2024, following on from the UK’s 12-month tenure leading NATO’s Maritime High Readiness Force last year.

Today was also the 9th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), where partners reaffirmed their commitment to sustain support for Ukraine and uphold the national rules-based order.

Together, the members of the UDCG have committed more than £40billion in military assistance to Ukraine. The UK provided more than £2.3billion worth of lethal aid to Ukraine in 2022, and the Prime Minister has committed to match or exceed the same level of funding in 2023.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council open debate on sea-level rise.

Thank you President, and thank you for convening this important debate today. I join others in thanking all of our briefers today.

As we’ve heard, continued sea level rise will increase the likelihood and magnitude of coastal flooding. This could lead to an increase in recognised drivers of insecurity, such as humanitarian disasters, population displacement and competition for natural resources.

President, even if these impacts are not yet apparent at scale, this should not stop us from doing more to urgently limit global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, to monitor and analyse these risks, anticipate and plan for them, and to prevent now the worst consequences of climate impacts on our security in the future.

I offer three ways we can do this:

Firstly, data and evidence gathering. This includes monitoring and analysis of conflict risks through a climate lens to better understand climate security risks at local and regional level. For this, we need to strengthen the capacity of the UN system to share and analyse information and integrate this into UN decision-making. The Council has a clear role in encouraging the UN system to consider and respond to the security implications of climate change.

Secondly, we need cohesive strategies to mitigate and address climate-related risks to peace and security issues, in a coordinated way. The UN system is well-positioned to coordinate efforts on peacebuilding, climate action and building resilience. Again, this Council has a clear role in driving a more coherent UN response to these challenges.

Thirdly, we need to build the resilience of coastal states. The UK Government has a number of programmes to strengthen resilience in developing countries against climate change, including the $600 million USD Blue Planet Fund, the $50 million USD Small Island Developing State Capacity and Resilience programme, as well as providing significant support through the Green Climate Fund.

Finally, President, I note the concerns of some member states around the risk of maritime border disputes resulting from climate-induced sea level rises, and whether maritime baselines should therefore be fixed. The UK is considering this carefully. We remain open to pragmatic and creative solutions and will continue to engage other states and the International Law Commission on some of these complex legal issues arising from this.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 February 2023.

The UK, US, France, Germany and Italy (the Quint) have expressed dismay at the Israeli government’s decision to expand settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“We – the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Italy, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and the Secretary of State of the United States – are deeply troubled by the Israeli government’s announcement that it is advancing nearly 10,000 settlement units, and intends to begin a process to normalize nine outposts that were previously deemed illegal under Israeli law. We strongly oppose these unilateral actions which will only serve to exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution.

“We continue to support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East, which must be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties. Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live in peace, with equal measures of freedom, security, and prosperity. We reaffirm our commitment to helping Israelis and Palestinians fulfill the vision of an Israel fully integrated into the Middle East living alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian state. We continue to closely monitor developments on the ground which impact the viability of the two-state solution and stability in the region at large.”

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 February 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Richard Croker at the UN General Assembly thematic debate on Our Common Agenda.

Thank you, Mr President, and also to the Secretary-General for his update on Our Common Agenda. Secretary General, this time last week, in this Hall, you described humanity as facing a ticking clock.

It is clear that we need to take urgent action to address today’s more complex global challenges and prepare for those ahead with a revitalised, fit for purpose, multilateral system.

As you said, this means reaffirming and adhering to the UN Charter and other foundational documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also means delivering on the more recent commitments we’ve already made, such as on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals, and addressing many of the issues in your ‘Our Common Agenda Report’ as the future challenges we will face.

We need to deliver real-word impacts, showing people around the world that the UN can make a real difference in their lives.

To achieve this, we need to make sure that the negotiations here on the follow up to your report are inclusive of the full membership, but also engage those who will be critical to success – including in the implementation of outcomes. Be that the private sector, civil society, or other parts of the multilateral system.

We also need to make sure that the UN has the tools it needs, for example, to resolve conflicts. Which is why we look forward to continuing to engage in your proposals for a New Agenda For Peace.

And we need a UN that’s fit for purpose. That’s why we strongly support your efforts to deliver a UN2.0, develop the UN’s capacity on data and strategic foresight.

Finally, we look forward to the release of your policy briefs over the coming months. These will be an opportunity for us to dive into the detail of your proposals and, in some cases, putting the meat on the OCA bones ahead of our discussions.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 February 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council briefing on children in armed conflict.

I would like to thank the Government of Malta for convening us today and congratulate you on taking up the chair of the CAAC Working Group. We look forward to working closely together. I also thank our briefers today for their powerful contributions.

The international community must do more to prevent grave violations against children. In countries like Ukraine, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children are experiencing the horrors of war and conflict. And when violations do occur, we must act robustly to ensure children get the support required. In this regard I want to make the following three points.

First, we must ensure that existing UN mechanisms are able to work effectively. The Children and Armed Conflict Working Group and the work of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict are critical pillars of the Council’s architecture for addressing these violations and we urge all member states to engage constructively and collaboratively with both.

Second, the United Kingdom is concerned by the dramatic rise of conflict-related sexual violence globally, with a 20 percent recorded increase in the Secretary-Generals 2022 CAAC Report. Last November, the United Kingdom launched the Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. Along with key partners and Special Representative Gamba, the UK has committed to taking action under this Platform. This includes the deployment of UK expertise to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo in conducting a national review of laws, policies and practices. We believe these actions will help change the lives of tens of thousands of children.

Third, and finally, the United Kingdom is exploring all levers, including sanctions, to deter perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence. We have already announced a sanctions package which included six targets in Mali, Myanmar and South Sudan who were designated for their involvement in sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence.

President, the international community must send a clear message that violations against children are intolerable. The United Kingdom is committed to playing its part in that cause.

Thank you.