To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the UN and (b) the government of Sudan on the introduction of peace-keeping forces into the East of the country. (105886)

The Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement was signed by the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front in Asmara on 14 October. The UK warmly welcomes the Agreement and we hope it will be the basis for lasting peace and security in eastern Sudan; and call on the parties to continue to work together to achieve this. The process was discussed in the margins of the UN General Assembly in September in the course of reviewing peace and security throughout the country.

Following the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) maintained a presence in eastern Sudan to monitor the withdrawal of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army from the area. UNMIS withdrew once this process was completed earlier this year.

Since the signing of the peace agreement there has been no reports of major violence in the area and neither side has requested the introduction of a peace-keeping force. This issue, therefore, is currently not a priority for our discussions with the UN and the Government of National Unity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being put in place to provide greater protection for refugees who have fled to Eastern Chad from Darfur; and if she will make a statement. (107528)

We are very concerned about the protection of Sudanese refugees and the internally displaced in Eastern Chad following the latest rebel offensive. The UK has argued for the need to consider deploying a peace support operation in Eastern Chad.

The UN has recently sent a team to Chad to consider the need for a UN Mission there. The UN Secretary-General is due to report back to the Security Council later this month.

We are, meanwhile, pressing the Governments of Sudan and Chad to stop supporting each others’ rebels and fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement. We are monitoring the situation in Chad very closely and are providing £4 million in humanitarian assistance to Chad in 2006. We will consider providing further support to the humanitarian response if required.