Displaying items by tag: Yvette Cooper

UK foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that the world is ‘looking away’ from the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan, urging global action to protect women and children. Visiting the Sudan–Chad border, she said the international community was failing Sudanese women, many of whom have suffered sexual violence since fighting erupted in 2023 between the army and the RSF. At the overcrowded refugee camp in Adré, most arrivals were women and children who had fled extreme brutality. More than twelve million people have been displaced, with millions crossing borders in search of safety. The UK has pledged new funding to support survivors, alongside partners including War Child, represented on the visit by Carey Mulligan. Calls are growing for stronger international pressure to end violence, halt the flow of arms, and pursue accountability. Meanwhile, the army claims to have broken through a blockade by RSF of the important town of Kadugli: see

Home secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed there is 'no specified number' of migrants set to be returned under the UK-France 'one in, one out' agreement, now in effect. The scheme enables the UK to return illegal Channel-crossers to France while accepting an equal number of vetted asylum seekers with ties to Britain. Though early estimates suggest around 50 returns per week, this is modest compared to the 800 weekly arrivals this year. Critics argue that the plan addresses only a small portion of illegal arrivals and lacks true deterrence. The treaty was agreed between Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron following months of negotiations. The Home Office has pledged £100 million to support enforcement, fund 300 new National Crime Agency officers, and bolster anti-smuggling technology. Migrants returned to France cannot reapply via the legal route. The treaty remains active until 2026, with ongoing reviews planned. See