Kate Osamor MP
Supporting Libya in the Face of Catastrophic Flooding The recent catastrophic flooding in Libya is an unfolding tragedy of immense proportions. Thousands of lives have been lost, and many more have been displaced, with whole neighbourhoods washed away in the port city of Derna. As an international community, we must act swiftly and decisively to support Libya in its time of need. I have urged the Government to coordinate a humanitarian response to this devastating event. This is not a crisis that only affects Libya; it has far-reaching implications for neighbouring countries and has the potential to impact people of various nationalities. One of the most immediate concerns is the risk of waterborne diseases taking hold due to the extensive damage to sanitation infrastructure. It is vital that the UK government outlines its plans for providing humanitarian assistance to prevent a secondary crisis within the current catastrophe. Political instability in Libya, the result of NATO’s intervention more than a decade ago, also poses a significant challenge to relief efforts. With news that as many as 20,000 lives could have been lost the £1 million support package announced by the Government is likely to inadequate and I would call on the Government to increase support in line with the unimaginable scale of this disaster. |
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Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Bill On Wednesday I voted for a Lords amendment that would have strengthened the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Bill. This legislation is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat financial misconduct and money laundering, but with the Tories blocking the Lords amendment it does not go far enough and is a wasted opportunity. For too long, the Conservative government appeared to ignore the influx of corruption and dirty money into our country, allowing Russian illicit finance and enabling Putin’s associates to live lavish lives in London. This inaction, including the delay in passing the first Economic Crime Bill, was deeply concerning and unacceptable. It is essential that we continue to hold those involved in corrupt activities accountable and establish a financial system that is transparent, equitable, and free from the influence of illicit money. As your Member of Parliament, I will persistently advocate for these principles and work towards a more accountable and just financial sector in the UK. |
Procurement Bill On Wednesday I also voted in favour of an important Lords amendment to the Procurement Bill. The Procurement Bill is a necessary Bill that consolidates a patch work of former EU rules to create a more straight forward set of rules that Local and National Government have to abide by when paying for goods, services or public projects. The amendment would have given authorities the power not to award contracts to organisations with links to organ harvesting. Unfortunately it was voted down by the Tories. Forced organ harvesting, especially in China, is a deeply concerning practice that targets ethnic and religious minorities held in detention, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Muslims. The Government hasn’t done enough to close legal loopholes that might inadvertently support such unethical and inhumane practices and their failure to support this amendment on Wednesday was just another example of that. |
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Crisis in Tigray On Monday I was honoured to chair a parliamentary session of the Inter Parliamentary Union which formed part of a series focusing on genocide leading up to the 75th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This session centred on the dire situation in Ethiopia, a nation plagued by violence and instability. Over the past two years, the conflict in Tigray alone has led to the tragic loss of between 600,000 and 800,000 lives, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in recent memory. Countless more have suffered injuries and abuse, including the horrifying use of rape, sexual violence, and starvation as weapons of war. During our session, we heard from experts deeply involved in addressing the Ethiopian crisis. Martin Plaut, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of London and former BBC Africa News Editor. We also heard from Rita Kahsay, a Human Rights Defender representing the Irob minority community in Tigray, shared her experiences on the ground, documenting testimonies from victims of rape and sexual violence. Dr Sarah Vaughan, a scholar with over 30 years of experience in Ethiopian affairs, discussed the current situation and international responses, particularly focusing on the Tigray War. The meeting was a moving and enlightening reminder of the tragedy that continues to unfold in Ethiopia and our continued fight against genocide. |
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Thank you for taking the time to read my latest update, if you have any issues that you would like to raise directly with me then please do email edmontonconstituency@parliament.uk . I’m always happy to help whenever possible. Kind regards, Kate Osamor Member of Parliament for Edmonton |