To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made or plans to make to the Government of Sudan on the recent expulsion of the head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur, Mr. Wael al-Haj Ibrahim; and if he will make a statement. (164349)

The UK shares international concerns at the expulsion of the Head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur on 7 November and fully supports UN efforts to resolve the case. The UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Co-ordinator told the Government of Sudan on 10 November that the expulsion contravened the letter and spirit of the Joint Communiqué of 28 March 2007, which undertakes to remove bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian agencies.

The UK and UN are pressing the Government of Sudan to comply with the commitments made to the international community, including through the High Level Committee, which monitors the implementation of the Joint Communiqué. The UK is due to assume an observer seat on the Committee.