To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that violence in Sudan has driven tens of thousands of civilians into hiding in the Nuba Mountains; and what steps they are taking to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to them.

We are extremely concerned at the impact on civilians of the ongoing violence in Southern Kordofan, have repeatedly condemned the lack of access afforded to the humanitarian agencies that are attempting to assist those affected, and have called for that access to be granted by all parties. The UK contributed £40 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund in 2011 that will be used to provide safe water, sanitation and emergency shelter to those affected by conflict and internally displaced people in Sudan, including this latest violence. We also allocated a further £15 million for an emergency fund focused on responding to any secession-related crises, which enabled the UN promptly to start the humanitarian response in Abyei and Southern Kordofan.