Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

The conference brought together experts on law, tech, and Holocaust remembrance and education, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence.

On 29th October in Bucharest, the UK Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) co-sponsored a conference on current and emerging challenges in Holocaust distortion and education, alongside Romania, the United States, and the OSCE’s ODIHR.

Examining the impact of emerging technologies on Holocaust denial and distortion is a key priority of the UK’s IHRA Presidency, and this conference followed a commitment made at the most recent IHRA plenary meeting hosted by the UK presidency in Glasgow in June, to step up action and build greater expertise on this subject.

In introductory remarks, Lord Pickles, UK Special Envoy on Post-Holocaust Issues, noted the appositeness of the conference being held in Bucharest, where the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism was negotiated and adopted. He paid tribute to the late Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu, who was vital in achieving this adoption.

The power of generative AI, and its potential capacity to both facilitate and counter Holocaust distortion, was a key focus of the day. Delegates explored the use of AI in interactive Holocaust testimony projects and the possibility of broadening the audience for these projects through AI language dubs, while acknowledging the ethical concerns of dubbing the testimony of survivors who are no longer with us. Panellists also discussed instances of generative AI models being oversensitive to Holocaust distortion, refusing to depict the Holocaust in any form and thereby potentially rendering it invisible.

Educators from a wide range of backgrounds and institutions, including UNESCO and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, shared their approaches to making Holocaust education as engaging and relevant as possible to their respective audiences. Ligia Deca, Romanian Minister of Education, offered reflections on Romania’s compulsory secondary education module ‘History of the Jews – The Holocaust’, taught for the first time in the 2023 academic year, and delegates agreed on the importance of having educators situate the Holocaust within the wider context of Jewish life and history. The conference also provided an opportunity for educators to discuss the impact of the 7 October 2023 Hamas terror attack against Israel and the Israeli military operation in Gaza on Holocaust education, and to share best practice on navigating the challenges that have subsequently emerged.

The outcomes of this conference will provide a foundation for further discussions on the role of emerging technologies in Holocaust distortion and education at the next IHRA plenary meeting hosted by the UK Presidency in December.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, gave a statement during Nigeria’s Trade Policy Review.

Chair, thank you very much and let me also welcome the Permanent Secretary very warmly and his enormous team here. It is great to see you all here. I promise you the weather is normally much better. Let me also express my gratitude to the team from Nigeria and the team from the Secretariat for their respective reports. To you, Chair, for your insightful comments and of course to our Discussant, who was as ever, as you said, elegant, eloquent and clear. We shall miss her greatly. But I still have hopes for lobbying to keep her.

Bilateral Trade

1. Just last week, my Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, was in Nigeria. Indeed, it was his first visit to Africa as Foreign Secretary. Of course it was perfectly timed, deliberately timed, just ahead of this Trade Policy Review.
2. The core mission of our new government is growth. And therefore it was an entirely logical place to go because, as we know, Nigeria is on track to be the world’s fifth largest economy by 2075. Most of us here may no longer be around to see it, but never mind, it is a tremendous prospect. Just over 60% of Nigerians are under the age of 25. Home to the consumers and workers who are going to power 21st-century growth. And David Lammy was clear that trade and investment is what gives people jobs. Both in the UK and in Nigeria. So, this is the lens through which we are approaching this trade policy review today.
3. As part of his visit last week, David Lammy launched consultations on our government’s new approach to Africa. And that consultation will, we hope, guarantee that our relationships across Africa, including of course Nigeria, are based on mutual respect and on partnership.
4. And as an early demonstration of that commitment to partnership, on 4 November, he signed a UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership. A comprehensive framework for jointly achieving our shared objectives and further strengthening our already flourishing, vibrant bilateral relationship. It builds on our Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, signed in February of this year.

Reports Analysis

1. Under this Strategic Partnership we have committed to working together to identify opportunities for mutual economic growth, including through reducing barriers to trade. And this is where this organisation – and today’s discussion – has a crucial role to play.
2. So we are pleased to see from the reports, and from the Permanent Secretary’s introduction, that the Nigerian economy continues to go from strength to strength, despite the various challenges it has faced whether it be Covid-19 or fluctuating commodity prices. Trade as a proportion of GDP up from 27 to 35% over the review period, demonstrating once again the economic benefits that flow from deeper and more open free trade.
3. Increased diversification – so crucial for economic growth – has seen manufacturing and agriculture grow in economic importance, and we would like to congratulate Nigeria on its continued infrastructure investment in areas such as energy, housing and transport.
4. We also welcome, as we gather in Baku, Nigeria’s decreasing reliance on oil and gas exports. Greener growth is a core part of our new Strategic Partnership, and we look forward to continuing to work with Nigeria to generate investment and jobs in the new growth: sustainable manufacturing, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy.

Business Environment

1. We also welcome Nigeria’s efforts on challenging, but necessary, economic reforms. And the Permanent Secretary said a word at the beginning about that. In particular, we have been pleased to see the work done to improve the monetary policy environment and the removal of fuel subsidies. However, to be honest Permanent Secretary, we would like you to go even further and faster.
2. For example, there are concerns around the impact of state-owned enterprises on the business environment. As the Secretariat noted in its report, as of 2022 around 40 state-owned enterprises were operating in key sectors like energy. These state-owned enterprises, to be honest, often employ market distorting practices and benefit from unfair competition in our view.
3. Other concerns that British businesses investing in Nigeria have raised include examples of harmful subsidies, forced technology transfer, discriminatory enforcement of competition policy and of complex regulatory barriers. And we have indeed picked up on some of those issues and concerns in our Advanced Written Questions.
4. So we would encourage our Nigerian colleagues to address these harmful practices in order to boost investment, boost trade, improve its business environment and ultimately increase Nigerian prosperity.

AfCFTA

1. One agreement that is, in our view, already benefitting the country’s economic and business environment is, as others have mentioned, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). We congratulate Nigeria on commencing commercially meaningful trade under the Agreement by joining the Guided Trade Initiative on 16 July.
2. We, in the UK, are proud to have supported the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office on reaching this milestone and we are currently supporting the implementation of the Digital Trade Protocol flowing from the Agreement, which is an ambitious and comprehensive framework designed to facilitate digital trade and unlock the potential of the digital economy right across the continent. According to the joint World Bank-WTO Policy Note last year on digital trade in Africa, if African countries were to improve their digital regulatory environment to that of the best on the continent, trade costs could fall by 17% in goods and 25% in business and professional services. So, we look forward to Nigeria implementing that Digital Trade Protocol to the benefit of its businesses, its consumers and its future growth.
3. And it would be remiss of me as one of the co-chairs of the Informal Working Group on Gender not to say how pleased I am to hear about the steps you have taken to promote women’s economic empowerment. As a little practical example, I was delighted to hear the recent story of Madam Chinwe Izenwa. A 73-year-old female entrepreneur and CEO of LeLook, a bags and fashion accessories company, who was the first Nigerian, I understand, to use the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. She has even given herself the nickname 0001, as she holds the first Agreement certificate of origin. An excellent example of Nigeria’s action on women’s economic empowerment, delivering real world benefits.

WTO and Multilateral Institutions

1. Closer to home, as others have done, we welcome Nigeria’s proactive and constructive engagement in this organisation. Nigeria is a friend of the multilateral system and a partner to us all.
2. And, of course, right at the heart of that is the significant contribution of this organisation’s most renowned Nigerian – our beloved DG – where let me echo your comments, Chair, about her resourceful and enthusiastic leadership of this organisation, which we look forward to continuing. And we should not forget, indeed, our beloved Ambassador Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid, who, when not presiding over this distinguished Committee, has done so much right across this organisation to bring us his wisdom and his energy.
3. Outside of this room, we would particularly note Nigeria’s efforts on Dispute Settlement – as the Africa Group’s focal point – and on Fisheries.
4. Nigeria has been a strong ally in plurilateral negotiations, whether on Services Domestic Regulation, Investment Facilitation for Development and e-commerce. While we may not always see eye to eye, Nigeria has, rightly, kept our feet to the fire in ensuring that those plurilateral outcomes are balanced for all Members. Thanks to Nigeria’s input we can be confident that the agreements reached are a fair compromise of ambition, commercial value and inclusivity. We were glad to have reached a stabilised text on e-commerce this summer. We welcome your confirmation, Permanent Secretary, this morning that consultations are ongoing back in Nigeria and we hope to count you as one of the Agreement’s founding parties as we move swiftly forward towards legal incorporation.
5. Thank you, also, for your efforts on the e-commerce moratorium showing why it is so important for your development and for that of countries across the world.

Conclusion

So let me finish by encouraging Nigeria to continue its reform efforts and end by quoting what I believe is an old Nigerian proverb: ‘Only the things for which you have struggled will last.’ So let’s keep struggling. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Chair Lord Pickles addressed the challenges posed to Holocaust memory by generative AI and other emerging technologies.

I am this year’s Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

We are a global community of governments and experts who focus on promoting, strengthening and advancing Holocaust education, remembrance and research.

Over the past two and a half decades, IHRA has safeguarded sites and challenged distortive narratives. Our experts are the backbone of everything we do. They fearlessly tackle complacency and warped misinformation in equal measure.

Our experts spotted the mushrooming of Holocaust distortion in 2010. They immediately understood how it threatened liberal democracy.

Holocaust denial is not mainstream; few serious people would publicly say the Holocaust is an invention.

Distortion is different. It is often misdiagnosed as a lesser evil.

Distortion takes many forms with two dominating trends: trivial comparisons and minimising numbers and treatment.

Suggesting Global Warning is a Climate Holocaust or Anti-Vaxers persecuted to the same extent as the Jews under Hitler trivialise the suffering of the Holocaust.

The second type masquerades as freedom of speech or earnest enquiry.

I was once attacked on Twitter for saying Treblinka was a death camp. My attacker said I could not be more wrong; it was a transit camp where a few people died due to influenza but nothing more

This questioning has become mainstream with the advent of Artificial Intelligence.

The threats associated with AI in safeguarding the record of the Holocaust are many,  including the potential for manipulation by malicious actors, the introduction of falsehoods or dissemination of biased information, and the gradual erosion of public trust in authentic records.

The latest wave of Antisemitism arrives as a perfect storm when reliable news outlets are at their weakest. Newspaper readership has plummeted, regional and local newspapers have disappeared, and the once powerful nightly news bulletins have diminished in influence.

This year, it is estimated that 52 per cent of the UK’s population relied on news via a social media platform, where there is little moderation or balance

One of the most graphic examples of this false narrative is the use of AI tools to create deepfakes.

As this decade progresses, the number of survivors who witnessed the Holocaust as children will move from contemporary memory into history. In anticipation of this, much effort is being made to secure testimony and protect archives. The very depth of this knowledge might be our Achilles’ heel

You don’t need programming skills to create a deepfake. You can make it for free in less than 30 seconds using many free deepfake applications.

We live in an era in which “seeing is no longer believing”.

The consequences of cheap, widespread fakery are likely to be profound.  It is possible to imagine Holocaust survivor testimony being manipulated. We may see Holocaust survivors with false words put into their mouths; the concentration camps were “not that bad”;  ‘we had plenty of food’; “we played cards on a Thursday with SS” and such like..

How do we meet this challenge.

The first thing we need to understand is AI is here to stay. That governments will always be playing catch up to cheep widely used AI.

The second thing is: we ourselves will use AI to improve our archives, it will find links and connections. We will use it to improve training and teaching

We need to enhance AI literacy and research skills so that users know how to verify AI-produced texts.

Key to all this is the necessity of understanding Large Language Models, and those in the Large Language Model community will need to understand the Holocaust to ensure its accurate representation.

Put simply, Large Language Models are a type of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning algorithms to replicate human language. It uses massive data sets to develop its ability to translate languages, predict text, and generate content.

As Large Language Models become more complex and human-like, they raise more ethical questions about their diversity, energy requirements, ability to make decisions, and use as content creators. This is why Large Language Models are so important in our field.

The big tech companies struggle to understand the issues around the Holocaust the same way we struggle to understand AI.  The intersection of understanding between policy makers, AI experts and Holocaust experts needs to grow.

That is why we will be focusing on Large Language Models during a special AI conference in London as part of the UK IHRA Presidency. The conference will bring together those involved in creating Large Language Models and our experts. It is an opportunity to learn from each other and to expand our work.

More than a decade ago IHRA adopted a working definition of Holocaust denial and distortion.

We made countering Holocaust distortion a pillar of the IHRA strategy.

With the support of voluntary contributions by Germany, Israel and the United States the IHRA established the Global Task Force against Holocaust Distortion.

Now the dangers of Holocaust distortion are addressed in the EU Strategy for Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life.

The United Nations passed a resolution condemning Holocaust distortion.

And we are here today, with IHRA Member Country Romania and OSCE ODIHR, who have both been close partners of the IHRA in our joint mission to counter Holocaust distortion.

Romania became one of the first countries to implement the new IHRA–UNESCO capacity building training to counter Holocaust distortion.

Romania successfully localized the campaign #ProtectTheFacts.

ODIHR has been a partner to #ProtectTheFacts since January 2023.

And the UK has just completed capacity building training to counter Holocaust distortion with NGOs and Policy Makers.

It’s clear that our work is far from done.

Over the past few days, like you, I have frequently thought about IHRA’s late Honorary Chairman, Yehuda Bauer. He had a way of taking complex ideas and making them simple. Yehuda once addressed our current dilemma when he said a half-truth is worse than a whole lie.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

Hazel Cameron, Head of the FCDO Human Rights Department, expresses the UK’s commitment to international law and its ironclad support for Ukraine.

Thank you very much Chairman. My name is Hazel Cameron, I am Head of the Human Rights Department in the Foreign Office in London. I am very pleased to be here.

We are deeply alarmed by the ongoing breaches in International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law being committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. As we are all aware in this room, there are reports from numerous credible international and local organisations documenting the scale of the atrocities, including indiscriminate attacks across Ukraine, the destruction of critical national infrastructure, including energy supply with the onset of winter, forced deportation of children and refusal to return those children, and a failure to protect basic human rights standards in Russian-occupied areas.

In the face of this, it’s easy to feel despondent, and I would like now to quote our Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he spoke at the UN General Assembly last week, when he said, ‘people talk about an age of polarisation, impunity and instability, and I fear a sense of fatalism has taken hold.’ However, ‘our task is to say: no. We won’t accept this slide into greater and greater conflict, instability and injustice’. Instead, we will do all we can to change it and to recommit to internationalism and to the rule of law. He then went on to evoke a number of situations, including the need to prevent regional war in the Middle East, the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he evoked the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, and above all he spoke of the need for the international community to stand together and to stand firm in condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine, and in upholding accountability.

Our support in the United Kingdom for Ukraine is ironclad. We will provide at least 100 million pounds in humanitarian aid in this financial year, bringing our total humanitarian contribution to 457 million pounds since the start of the invasion. We will continue to support the work of this organisation and the rest of the international architecture, including the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe, United Nations and its specialist bodies, as well as brave human rights defenders, journalists and activists in Ukraine.

We will work with our community of lawyers in the UK, who bring expertise through the UK-US-EU cooperation in the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, helping the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to ensure that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done. We remain resolute in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, protecting civilians and seeking justice for those affected by Russia’s ongoing violations.

Through our collective action and solidarity, we hope to achieve a just and lasting peace and uphold the principles of international law. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

The UK has announced further measures against Iran in response to its transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, aiding its war in Ukraine. This follows the initial UK response and commitments outlined by the E3 (UK, France and Germany).

Iran’s national airline, Iran Air, is today subject to an asset freeze which will further restrict its direct, scheduled commercial air services to and from the UK, following financial sanctions imposed by the UK government.

As a state-owned airline, Iran Air, is sanctioned in response to the Government of Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, following commitments outlined by the E3 in September.

The UK is also announcing sanctions against the state-owned national shipping carrier of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), and the Russian cargo ship, PORT OLYA-3 (IMO 9481910). These measures include an asset freeze and shipping sanctions respectively, taken against both entities for their role in supporting the Iranian defence sector or transporting weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Today’s announcement comes as the Prime Minister prepares to mark 1,000 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine at the G20 tomorrow, and as the Foreign Secretary visits New York to chair the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The Foreign Secretary will address the UNSC and reiterate the UK’s ironclad commitment to Ukraine, and to securing a lasting peace in the Middle East.

In his meeting at the UN Security Council, Foreign Secretary David Lammy will say:

Iran’s attempts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable.

Alongside our international partners, we were clear that any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would face a significant response.

That’s why today we are sanctioning Iran Air and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, in response to Iran’s deliveries of ballistic missiles to Russia.

We reiterate our call on Iran to cease its support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine which continues to bring devastation to the Ukrainian people. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

These measures follow initial steps taken by the UK government on 10 September in response to Iran’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, which included the cancellation of the UK’s bilateral air services arrangements with Iran.

The UK also amended the Iran sanctions regime to strengthen trade sanctions on Iran, targeting items that are used in the production of ballistic missiles, UAVs and other weaponry.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

This government stands firmly with the people of Ukraine and we have been clear that any support for Russia’s illegal war will not be tolerated.

We will continue to use every lever at our disposal to put pressure on Iran to end the transfer of ballistic missiles and bring an end to this needless destruction.

Today’s sanctions follow action taken previously, alongside international partners, whereby the UK sanctioned key Iranian and Russian individuals and organisations for their role in facilitating Iran’s military support to Russia, including Russian cargo ships that transporting military supplies from Iran to Russia.

To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, including those that seek to use malign influence regionally and internationally. The UK has also sanctioned 2,100 individuals and entities under the Russia sanctions regime, with over 1,900 designated since the start of Putin’s full-scale invasion.

The UK is clear that Iran must stop supporting Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state, and that we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

Minister for the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty will welcome elected leaders and ministers from across the 14 Overseas Territories to the Joint Ministerial Council.

• Growth, climate, security, governance, and transparency top of the agenda as the new UK government strengthens partnership with the UK Overseas Territories at annual Joint Ministerial Council meeting
• New UK government reaffirms commitment to defending Overseas Territories’ sovereignty, security, and right to self-determination
• Leaders will discuss ways to transform how the UK and Overseas Territories work together on shared challenges, within a respectful and sustainable constitutional partnership

The new UK government has committed to working more closely with the Overseas Territories to boost growth, tackle climate change, crack down on crime, boost good governance and improve financial transparency, as the leaders of the Overseas Territories meet with UK Ministers at the Joint Ministerial Council in London this week.

The event marks a key point in the new UK government’s relationship with the Overseas Territories, as the new government seeks a fresh approach based on closer working and mutual respect, to further strengthen bonds with the British family of Overseas Territories.

Minister for the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty will welcome elected leaders, ministers, and representatives from the 14 Overseas Territories to listen to their ideas on how to transform the UK-Overseas Territories’ relationship to deliver greater security and prosperity, deliver high standards of governance and transparency, and address the dual climate and nature crises.

The UK’s enduring partnership with the Overseas Territories is highly valued by this government. Alongside our deep people to people ties and shared history, the Overseas Territories make strong economic contributions, oversee 94% of Britain’s unique species and key marine and land ecosystems, and extend Britain’s global presence in a range of strategically important regions. Many too are on the frontline of the impacts of climate change.

This week, Minister Doughty will also underline the UK’s unwavering commitment to defend the Overseas Territories and their sovereignty and rights, including to self-determination.

Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty said:

The Overseas Territories are an invaluable part of the British family, and we are focussed on delivering on the issues that matter to them, including prosperity, climate change, infrastructure, and security – as well as working in partnership with them to ensure sustainable societies, good governance and transparency that deliver positive outcomes for all of us.

This new government is committed to further building our relationship with the Overseas Territories on the basis of mutual respect and inclusion, and I’m looking forward to continued working with leaders to transform how we deliver for all our people and bring our family closer together.

Delegates will attend meetings at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London over the next four days, where the Minister will lead conversations with leaders and representatives on collective action to be taken on a range of key issues, including security, irregular migration, financial transparency, climate change, infrastructure and economic resilience.

Overseas Territories present at the meeting will include Anguilla, Ascension, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

The new British Ambassador to Guatemala, Juliana Correa, presented her credentials to President Bernardo Arevalo on 18 November 2024.

President Arevalo welcomed Ambassador Correa to Guatemala and expressed appreciation for the UK’s continued support and cooperation.  The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Ramiro Martinez, was present in the event.

Ambassador Correa reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with Guatemala. She highlighted the shared goals of promoting sustainable development, fostering economic growth, and enhancing environmental protection and governance. She pledged continued investment in Central America biodiversity and climate resilience through the UK’s Biodiverse Landscapes Fund.

The UK has been a key partner for Guatemala in working to tackle climate change while promoting human rights and rural development.  Ambassador Correa looks forward to continuing strengthening those ties.

Ms Juliana Correa was appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala in April 2024 and arrived in the region in October this year. You can read her full biography here.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 November 2024.

Catherine West, the UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific visits India to reiterate the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

Climate, tech, health, education and development on the agenda as Catherine West, the UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific, visits India to reiterate the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

During her 2-day visit she will hold meetings with senior Indian ministers and officials and learn more about the unique living bridge both countries share.

Building upon the ambitions for the UK-India relationship set out by the Foreign Secretary in his visit in July, Minister West will continue to unlock the full potential of the UK-India partnership and drive forward greater growth for both countries.

Her visit will include a meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi, where she will reinforce the UK’s commitment to a stronger partnership and the importance of the enduring links between our people.

She will also reiterate that the UK remains committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said:

I am delighted to be visiting India for the first time as Minister for the Indo-Pacific. As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is a vital partner.

My visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to fostering deeper cooperation with India and to driving forward greater growth and prosperity for both our nations.

During an education roundtable at the British Council, the Minister will learn more about the unique “living bridge” between the UK and India, representing the 1.7 million people in the UK with Indian heritage and connecting our two countries across our culture, education, food, sport and more.

Further deepening this cultural understanding, the Minister will visit the Jama Masjid in Delhi, where she will learn about its history and architecture.

Her visit follows a 2-day visit to Bangladesh, where she reaffirmed UK support for the Interim Government’s work to build a more prosperous and democratic future for the country.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 November 2024.

The UK has announced an aid package for Sudan and neighbouring countries.

• UK announces a major aid increase of £113 million for people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries
• Foreign Secretary will call for the Adre border crossing to remain open indefinitely and for immediate action to end the violence
• Draft UN Security Council resolution introduced to push for the protection of civilians and an unrestricted passage of aid.

Today [Sunday 17 November] the UK has announced an aid package which will support more than one million people affected by the devastating war in Sudan, providing vital aid for those in need.

The new £113 million aid package, which doubles the UK’s aid commitment to Sudan and the region this year, will assist over 600,000 people in Sudan and 700,000 people in neighbouring countries who have fled the conflict, including Chad and South Sudan.

During the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the United Nations Security Council tomorrow [Monday 18 November], he will call on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to keep the vital Adre border crossing open indefinitely and for the removal of restrictions, which have limited the amount of aid coming through it.  The Foreign Secretary will also call for the SAF and Rapid Support Forces to stop blocking aid convoys.

After 18 months of violent conflict, Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis of the decade, with over 500,000 people in Darfur in famine conditions. Over 11 million people are displaced, 25 million are in desperate need of aid, and famine is likely to spread.

The new funding package announced today will support UN and NGO partners in providing food, cash, shelter, medical assistance, water and sanitation.

Not only is this aid vitally needed, but it will also help people to stay within their home region so they can return to their homes when conditions allow.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The brutal conflict in Sudan has caused unimaginable suffering. The people of Sudan need more aid, which is why the UK is helping to provide much-needed food, shelter and education for the most vulnerable.

But we cannot deliver aid without access. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war and we can only stop this famine if every border crossing and route is open, accessible and safe.

As the lead on Sudan in the UN Security Council, I will be using the UK’s Presidency on Monday to press for a resolution that ensures the protection of civilians and an unrestricted passage of aid.

The UK will never forget Sudan.

At the UN, the Foreign Secretary will bring together international partners to lead a discussion on steps to push the warring parties to remove obstacles to humanitarian access.

Humanitarian workers face significant challenges delivering aid to those most in need with instances of aid workers killed, access being blocked by the warring parties, and UN workers unable to move freely. The Adre border crossing re-opened in August and offers a vital lifeline to allow aid to be delivered from Chad into Darfur.

The Minister of State for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

During my visit to South Sudan in August, I saw first-hand the heart-breaking impact the violence is having on those fleeing the conflict.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening. Famine and disease are spreading, and by next year, many more will be in desperate need of aid.

We have to prevent further suffering by acting now. Support announced today will reach over a million people, providing food for some of those most in need and will assist neighbouring countries to continue hosting refugees.

The UK has also introduced a new UN Security Council resolution which will pressure the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians, deliver a ceasefire and allow the safe passage of aid.

On 22 August, the UK Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds, announced £15 million to support those fleeing violence in Sudan, including those displaced to South Sudan and Chad.

Background

• The conflict in Sudan began last April 2023 when violence erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Tensions between SAF General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) had been escalating for months following disagreements on a transition to a civilian led government.
• On 18 October, the UK led a joint statement with 10 other donors, condemning the obstruction of aid and called upon the warring parties to comply with obligations under international humanitarian law.
• Funding announced today includes:
• £43.5 million for Sudan
• Funding will also include £69.5 million of support for people affected by the conflict in neighbouring countries including:
• Chad
• Sudan
• Uganda
• Education Cannot Wait will receive support to provide safe learning spaces and psychosocial support for 200,000 vulnerable children in refugee and host communities in Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Uganda.
• Libya

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2024.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific arrives in Bangladesh, marking the first UK ministerial visit to the country since the formation of the Interim Government.

• The one-day visit will include key meetings with the Chief Adviser and Foreign Affairs Adviser, as well as political and business leaders and civil society.
• Rohingya refugees and the communities which host them in Bangladesh will receive essential assistance and services through new UK funding.
• Bangladeshis affected by natural disasters this year will also receive UK funded assistance.

The UK shows support for Bangladesh today (16 November) as Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West meets counterparts in the Interim Government for the first time.

Since the establishment of the Interim Government in August 2024, the UK has been clear in its support for Interim Government’s work on accountability and creating a pathway to an inclusive democratic future for Bangladesh.

During her visit to Dhaka, Minister West will discuss the UK’s ongoing support for political and economic reforms, security, trade cooperation and UK-Bangladesh migration with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain.

She will meet with student leaders and political parties to discuss the UK’s support for Bangladesh’s democratic recovery, and with business leaders to discuss how the UK government can continue to create strong ties and boost mutually beneficial trade and investment.

The recently announced UK funding has already provided food to 200,000 Rohingya refugees for a three-month period. It will now provide further support to Rohingya refugees with clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, primary healthcare, protection services and shelter materials. It will also provide assistance to those impacted by natural disasters in Bangladesh earlier this year.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said

“The UK supports the Interim Government’s work to build a more prosperous and democratic future for the Bangladeshi people.

“I am proud to announce new UK funding to support Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi communities which host them with essential services and assistance.”

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke Said

“I am delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West to Bangladesh. This visit will deepen and broaden the UK’s economic and security partnership with Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh is currently undergoing a transformation, and as a longstanding friend, the UK will assist in the economic and political reforms which will help Bangladesh to continue its social and economic growth as it moves towards an inclusive and democratic future.”

Protests over the summer saw shocking loss of life and injuries. The UK’s support following this has included the deployment of a specialised medical team to care for some of those more critically wounded during protests over the summer.

Notes to Editors/Background only

The £10.3m of new UK support is intended to provide:

• Clean water, hygiene and sanitation support for up to 11,000 Rohingya refugees, delivered by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
• Primary healthcare for 8,000 Rohingya refugees; and support to address housing, land and property issues in the Rohingya refugee camps and the communities which host them. This will be delivered by an NGO consortium that includes Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Danish Refugee Council and Humanity and Inclusion (HI).
• Protection services and shelter materials for Rohingya refugees, delivered by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
• Assistance to support communities recover from natural disasters in Bangladesh earlier this year, as requested in the humanitarian appeal launched by the UN in September.
• The funding has already provided food to 200,000 Rohingya refugees per month for three months earlier this year, delivered by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).

Since 2017, the UK has provided £401 million to support the Rohingya refugees and communities which host them in Bangladesh with essential assistance and services.

A UK Emergency Medical Team (EMT) is in Bangladesh to provide specialised medical treatment to students more critically injured during the July-August 2024 protests. This deployment is taking place in response to formal requests from Interim Government of Bangladesh.