Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he will take to protect the people of Somalia from displacement, deprivation, widespread human rights abuses and the threat of imminent famine; if he will press for a lasting solution to the conflict there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24719/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The humanitarian situation across Somalia remains grave and I remain deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of Somalis and the aid community seeking to assist them. In what was already a precarious environment for humanitarian agencies, security and access have deteriorated even further in 2008. Obstacles to those seeking to deliver relief in Somalia include random violence, piracy, kidnapping threats, landmines and general banditry. In addition, taxes are imposed by some members of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) on the distribution of relief goods.

The newly appointed Prime Minister in the TFG, Nur Hassan Hussein, has committed himself to internal dialogue and pursuing a reconciliation process with the political opposition. Contacts were initiated with members of the opposition based in Asmara, and talks, facilitated by the Special Representative of UN Secretary General, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, between the Transitional Federal Government and opposition groups got under way in Djibouti in late May. The TFG and the opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) signed an agreement on 9 June, calling for a cessation of hostilities between the two sides, and the eventual withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia and the deployment of a UN force.

The Djibouti agreement is good news, but many armed groups remain outside the process. Re-establishing security and the rule of law remains a major challenge. The security situation in Moghadishu and surrounding areas remains extremely poor, with further large-scale civilian casualties as a result of fighting between government and Ethiopian forces and opposition militias in recent weeks.

The humanitarian situation in Somalia has further deteriorated in the year due to lower than expected rainfall during the 2007 rainy season, which has led to a deepening drought in several regions of the country, particularly in most of the central regions and parts of the North East and South. The total rainfall was insufficient to replenish water sources, regenerate pasture, and for rain-fed crop development. These areas are already witnessing abnormal livestock migration, which is adding pressure to rangeland and water resources. The combined effects of poor rains, conflict and displacement have severely exacerbated the food security situation and caused an alarming rise in acute malnutrition rates, particularly in regions that absorbed large numbers of conflict-related internally displaced persons.

Ireland's commitment to the ongoing crisis in Somalia is demonstrated by our status as the seventh largest bilateral contributor to humanitarian endeavours in Somalia in 2007. Ireland has spent more than €15.5 million on humanitarian aid to Somalia since 2006. Additionally, our commitment has been complemented by three successive deployments of members of the Rapid Response Corps to assist the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees with its work in Somalia.