Mr. Barry Andrews:

It is superb that this committee is covering the issue of South Sudan today because it is not being covered in the media and there are no events that would create attention for this issue. The fact that the committee is focusing its attention on this issue is excellent. We in Ireland are sensitive about issues to do with famine. Last year a famine was averted due to concerted humanitarian action and this year we need to think along the same lines. We began by talking about funding and the real consequences to the lack of funding. Mr. Elliott has concluded his presentation by making reference to the lack of air access to some of the most difficult to reach places in South Sudan and the requirement for pre-positioning of stocks in order to avoid the hardship that is being predicted.

I thank the committee for giving us this opportunity.