Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action taken to date by him at European level and in the United Nations with regard to the expulsion by Sudan of humanitarian non-governmental organisations; his views on whether what already is a humanitarian emergency is rapidly becoming a humanitarian disaster in which millions of lives are at stake; the position with regard to the people of Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12444/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on 4 March that it would issue a warrant for the arrest of the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Darfur conflict. Ireland and the EU have expressed our support for the work the ICC is doing. There has, however, been a strong political reaction in Sudan to the ICC warrant against President Bashir. The Government of Sudan immediately announced its intention to expel thirteen international humanitarian organisations from Darfur. The thirteen agencies concerned account for 40% of all aid in Sudan; between them, they provide food to 1 million people; safe water to a similar number; and basic health care to 1.5 million people.

The impact of the Government's actions is not yet fully apparent, since many NGOs had built up stocks of supplies in Darfur — including food, and fuel to keep water pumps going. These stocks are rapidly running down, and there is an urgent need to ensure that people do not suffer as a result. A joint UN/Sudan mission has been dispatched to Darfur to assess the humanitarian situation. However, it will not be possible in any reasonable time frame for the UN, the Government and local NGOs to replace the capacity and expertise provided by the expelled NGOs over an extended period of time.

As a result of the ongoing violence, we are continuing to see new displacements in Darfur and rising tensions in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Almost everywhere in Darfur, IDP settlements are currently overstretched. A further 263,000 refugees remain across the international border in Chad, though so far there has not been substantial new population movement. Irish troops, now deployed as part of the UN's MINURCAT mission, are providing wide-area security around the refugee settlements in Chad.

I strongly believe that the EU should make every effort to reverse the expulsions of NGOs from Sudan. On 9 March, the EU condemned the Sudanese Government's decision. EU Foreign Ministers discussed the issue at the I strongly believe that the EU should make every effort to reverse the expulsions of NGOs from Sudan. On 9 March, the EU condemned the Sudanese Government's decision. EU Foreign Ministers discussed the issue at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 March, and called on the Government of Sudan to reconsider urgently the decision to expel these organisations and to ensure that the most vulnerable people in Sudan are guaranteed humanitarian assistance. The EU position is being emphasised to regional and international partners with potential influence on the Sudanese Government.

Ireland has been very active in working to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict in Darfur. Since 2006, Irish Aid funding to Sudan has amounted to over €50 million. This funding has been provided to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to UN agencies working in South Sudan and Darfur and to the UN administered Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund. Among the many well-respected international NGOs expelled from Sudan were some which had received Irish Aid funding. We will be reviewing with those organisations how best to proceed. My priority now is to safeguard the position of those Irish NGOs which are continuing to do very important work in Sudan.