Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives which Ireland is supporting to address the deteriorating military situation in Somalia that is threatening civilians with famine and upheaval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25072/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Somalia. The country has been without an effective government since 1991. Despite an initial period of stability after Ethiopian troops and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces defeated the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) the situation worsened significantly in December 2006. Fighting in Mogadishu since October 2007 has prompted hundreds of thousands to flee the capital, adding to the humanitarian crisis. In total, approximately one million people have been displaced since the start of 2007, while up to two million need humanitarian aid.

The Djibouti agreement, which was signed by TFG Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia on 9 June, represents a first step in the right direction. However, many armed groups remain outside the process and, as indicated above, the security situation in Mogadishu and surrounding areas remains extremely poor. The humanitarian situation, which was already precarious, has also deteriorated further in terms of security and access for agencies. In this regard agencies face random violence, piracy, kidnapping threats, landmines and general banditry. The humanitarian situation is compounded by lower than expected rainfall during the 2007 rainy season which has led to a deepening drought in several regions of the country. The total rainfall was insufficient to replenish water sources, regenerate pasture, and for rain-fed crop development. The combined effects of poor rains, conflict and displacement have severely exacerbated the food security situation.

Ireland's commitment to resolving the ongoing crisis in Somalia is demonstrated by our status as the seventh largest bilateral contributor to humanitarian endeavours in Somalia in 2007. Irish Aid has allocated €4.88 million to Somalia thus far in 2008. In total Irish Aid has allocated more than €18 million in funding for aid in 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. Overall Ireland will continue to extend every possible assistance both to ease the humanitarian situation and to support the promotion of internal dialogue and national reconciliation within Somalia.