Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding the humanitarian catastrophe in Sri Lanka. [46011/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned by the escalation in fighting which has taken place in recent months in the northern part of Sri Lanka, including in the Vanni region, and by the humanitarian plight which has affected the people there. The situation has been exacerbated by Cyclone Nisha which hit northern Sri Lanka on 25 November, causing heavy rains and flooding which reportedly forced up to 70,000 people to relocate. Humanitarian assistance to these people has been hindered by the decision of the Sri Lankan authorities in September to order nearly all international humanitarian NGOs to withdraw their staff and operations from the Vanni conflict area.

Bilaterally, and with our EU partners, we have consistently sought to impress on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) the importance of engaging in meaningful peace talks and stopping all violence and human rights violations. We deeply regret the termination of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE in January of this year. We continue to take the firm view that there can be no military solution and urge all sides to refrain from actions that make a negotiated settlement more difficult to achieve.

As one of the four co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, the EU too is anxious to maintain an active role in assisting the country to resolve its internal conflicts, work on national reconciliation and move forward on the development agenda. Following a meeting of the Co-Chairs of the Conference on 24 September last, the Presidency expressed again its concern in relation to human rights and the plight of civilian populations isolated by combat in the north of the country. It called on the parties involved to respect the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and noted the obligation of the Sri Lankan Government to ensure protection of its civilians and to meet their needs. In this context, it underlined the essential role of humanitarian organisations and reaffirmed its support for the actions of the United Nations agencies and the international NGOs. Ireland fully supports the terms of this Presidency statement.

Since 2005, we have provided, through Irish Aid, more than €5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka. This includes significant emergency assistance provided in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2004. In addition, during 2008 over US$12 million has been allocated from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund to Sri Lanka.

Two members of Ireland's Rapid Response Corps have been deployed as Logistics Officers with the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sri Lanka, and Irish Aid provided a grant of €250,000 this year to the WFP to strengthen its logistics and preparedness capacity, providing considerable benefits to the wider humanitarian community operating in Sri Lanka.

Ireland is willing to offer advice and assistance in support of the peace process if it is sought by the relevant parties. However, there currently appears little scope to do so in light of the negative situation within the country.