asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they are giving to the warning given by Sir John Holmes, the United Nations emergency relief co-ordinator, that aid relief in Darfur is close to collapse and that aid workers have been beaten and sexually assaulted. [HL3041]

Humanitarian agencies in Darfur are struggling to deliver vital aid in exceptionally difficult circumstances. The main challenges facing agencies are attacks and banditry, and bureaucratic impediments and harassment by the Government of Sudan. I am encouraged that the concerted lobbying by the UN, UK and others has brought about the joint UN-Government of Sudan communiqué issued on 28 March. This represents an important step forward, undertaking to ease the administrative constraints on humanitarian agencies and reaffirming the Government's commitment to supporting the work, and respecting the neutrality and independence, of humanitarian agencies.

In order to monitor the implementation of the communiqué, a committee has been set up to be co-chaired by the UN and Government of Sudan and includes representatives of the non-government organisations and three observers from the African Union, the Arab League and the donor community. The first meeting will be held in mid-April and we look to this mechanism to ensure that the Government live up to their commitments.