Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)

The Minister of State is likely aware that in the English-speaking world, one of the most prominent journalists drawing attention to this situation is Declan Walsh, a journalist from The New York Times. Mr. Walsh, an Irishman who has written extensively on this conflict, wrote a piece at the start of the month describing the situation in El Fasher. He interviewed a gentleman, Dr. Omar Selik, who cried during the interview as he described "how a pregnant woman had bled to death in his care for want of simple medicines". The article explained that Dr. Selik's lunch consisted of "a plate of lumpy brown mush, animal fodder normally fed to camels and cows." This was the situation. Dr. Selik was killed several days later during an attack on a mosque by the RSF which killed 75 people. The situation in that part of Darfur and in Darfur generally is very severe.

I understand there have been negotiations involving President Donald Trump's envoy to Africa, Mr. Boulos, for increased access of aid to El Fasher and the surrounding area. Is the Irish Government aware of whether there has been any progress on that or if there is any relief regarding what was effectively a complete blockage on aid into that area?

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