Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad for this debate on the fast deteriorating situations in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. I thank him for his comprehensive update, detailing the extent of the Government’s contribution to humanitarian aid and relief, as well as his personal commitment to making real progress, in these troubled areas.

The humanitarian crisis in Syria is of truly alarming proportions and has deteriorated significantly in recent months. Figures suggest that as many as 13 million people are in need of assistance there. Out of this, 2.4 million are registered, or are awaiting registration, in the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and other countries in north Africa. The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees predicts there will be 4 million refugees from Syria by the end of 2014, a truly alarming development. It is inevitable that the large influx of people is putting much pressure on their host communities, raising tensions in some areas. Countries bordering Syria are now approaching a dangerous point and require greater international assistance in helping with the refugee situation. It would be timely for a debate on how Ireland can help with refugee placements, as we do not have a particularly brilliant track record in this regard.

The violence and increasing insecurity in Syria is making it extremely difficult for aid workers to do their jobs and is preventing them from reaching those who desperately need aid. Ireland has taken the lead by calling for a UN Security Council resolution that would put pressure on the Assad regime to lift the unacceptable restrictions that prevent emergency assistance getting to millions of people. We all want to see urgent progress at the Geneva II conference that will lead to a political solution to the conflict. I welcome the EU’s reiteration that the only solution to the conflict is a genuine political transition based on the full implementation of the Geneva communique and preserving the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. We wish Lakhdar Brahimi and his team much success. On a personal note, I want to wish success to a Rafif Jouejati, the deputy English-speaking spokesperson for the Syrian opposition, a wonderful lady who has visited this House on several occasions and whom I have met.

I am, however, concerned about some reports in the international media. Rime Allaf, a leading Syrian analyst, recently writing in The Guardian, pointed out that the peace talks are allowing Assad to engage in an endless process in which he can buy time and make further progress on the ground. She further stated:

There is nothing Bashar al-Assad's regime loves more than a process, and the international community has just delivered one that could maintain the status quo inside Syria indefinitely.
... and with the reluctance of the US and its allies to engage in more than timid [vapid] condemnations or declarations of intent, he can continue to terrorise most of the population into submission. ... The worst thing the international community could do is push talks for the sake of talks, to wash its hands of the problem that is Syria. Leaving the catastrophe to sort itself out in Geneva's corridors while continuing to refuse more direct engagement merely empowers Assad in the long run, and pushes his opponents further into a zero-sum calculation. Geneva would then be doing more harm than good to Syria, leaving Assad and his followers with the delusions that he is invincible and an irreplaceable partner in Syria. ... It is up to the international community to ensure that Geneva does not remain a mere process if it is serious, as most Syrians are, about ending the war.

I am sure the Minister of State, along with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and our EU partners, will continue to exert pressure that will achieve real progress at the Geneva II talks that will bring an end to the appalling atrocities perpetrated against innocent, defenceless people relying on humanitarian aid for their very survival.

As a small country with limited resources, we have been supportive of relief for the humanitarian crisis in Syria. It is obvious that many wealthier nations have been less so. This needs to be highlighted at European and international level. I acknowledge the amazing work done by aid agencies, including Concern, GOAL, Trócaire, UNICEF and others funded through Irish Aid. The bravery and dedication of these aid workers who work in such dangerous and challenging situations is to be applauded and admired. The Irish people have traditionally strongly supported those organisations working with the poorest in the world through generous contributions. It is regrettable, however, that the recent exposure of bad governance in a small number of charities has had a negative impact on the fund-raising efforts of well-run organisations helping the most vulnerable and needy in the world. I urge the Government to put in place quickly the promised regulatory structures for the charities sector, so confidence in it can be restored. I also appeal to the people to continue to support the many wonderful and well-run charities providing humanitarian aid to people ravaged by war and hunger. The greed of a few cannot be allowed to jeopardise the good done by so many.

This morning I listened to an interview with a UNICEF aid worker in the Central African Republic. It was a harrowing account of appalling violence, human rights abuses and loss of life in that mineral-rich country, particularly the awful trauma endured by children and her concern for the long-term effect on them. It is estimated that 1 million people, 25% of the population, have been displaced since fighting began last March when mainly Muslim rebels seized power in the majority Christian former French colony and 2,000 people have been killed. It is critical that the international community takes a hands-on approach to stabilising the situation there. The selection of an interim government led by Catherine Samba-Panza to restore order is an opportunity that must be built upon. The decision of the UN Security Council on 20 January 2014 to adopt a crisis-management concept for a possible EU military operation to contribute to stabilisation is also to be welcomed. The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has said the US is prepared to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for the religious-based violence. The appalling level of killings, sexual violence and recruitment of child soldiers deserves urgent international intervention. Those responsible for these awful crimes must be brought before the International Criminal Court. It is also critical Ireland continues to support the vulnerable people affected there through the UN’s common humanitarian fund.

The scale of the crisis in South Sudan is alarming. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 575,000 people have been internally displaced.

Approximately 112,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries. Most have fled with nothing and the conditions in the displaced persons camps are very difficult, without enough water, food or shelter. The spread of disease is a major concern in the region and even before the crisis, the health system in South Sudan was extremely fragile, with 80% of health services being funded and provided by international organisations. According to MSF, there are two major challenges in trying to provide humanitarian medical care, one being the sheer scale of the needs on the ground and the other, the lack of respect for humanitarian facilities and staff. UNICEF said yesterday that it required $32 million to meet the immediate needs of those affected by Sudan's recent crisis. We all condemn the ongoing hostilities in South Sudan and deplore the loss of life and the large scale abuse of human rights. We all support the EU call on all parties to agree an immediate cessation of hostilities and violence and urge all political and military leaders to protect the population and act in the interests of the South Sudanese people as a whole. We also urge them to engage meaningfully in the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa. I welcome the ongoing support being provided by the Irish Government for humanitarian aid, which is being distributed by Concern. I applaud the wonderful work being done by all NGOs on the ground in these very difficult situations. I regret that, undoubtedly, we will be back here again discussing these three very serious humanitarian situations in the future. I particularly urge everybody involved in the Syrian peace talks in Geneva to intensify their efforts to ensure that real and meaningful progress is made in the coming weeks.