Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all three witnesses for providing detailed presentations with great clarity. They paint a very bleak picture of an unfolding tragedy, in which there has already been great loss of life and all the horror and pain that is associated with conflict and humanitarian disaster. We were asked if Ireland and its political representatives could use all the forums available to us to highlight at international level the concerns the witnesses have raised. We can raise the matter in the Dáil Chamber and I am sure the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and his officials will raise it in every forum available to him. The various political parties can also ensure Members of the European Parliament from their respective parties highlight the issue in the European Parliament. We will try to use every forum available to us to raise the issue.

All three speakers indicated that 4 million people out of a population of 8.26 million need humanitarian assistance. This is a substantial proportion of the population. We also heard that 10,000 people have died and 1.4 million have been displaced in what has been a relatively short conflict, although no conflict can be said to have been short enough. The loss of life and displacement of persons has been huge and it is necessary to provide people with protection, food, water, nutrition and shelter. Is assistance reaching the people who are most in need of it? I recently read reports indicating there have been up to 30 deaths as a direct result of an outbreak of cholera and that the disease was spreading. What is the most recent information in this regard?

Members will have read reports that the long-running power struggle between the South Sudan President and his former Vice-President was one of the main catalysts for the violence, loss of life and horrors being inflicted on the population of South Sudan? Is that correct or what part do other difficulties and problems related to ethnicity and non-inclusivity on the part of the regime play in the ongoing conflict?

Mr. Jim Clarken and Mr. Jonathan Edgar mentioned the mediation talks that apparently have made some progress. As I may not have heard them properly, I presume those were the talks that were being brokered by Ethiopia and Kenya.