Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide, as a matter of urgency, additional overseas development aid for South Sudan, due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8235/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The humanitarian situation remains grim and the political situation is very fragile in the wake of the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan in December 2013. Widespread violence has forced 2 million people to flee their homes; 1.5 million people have been internally displaced, and half a million people have taken refuge in neighbouring countries.

I saw the devastating impact of the crisis when I accompanied President Higgins on a visit to a refugee camp in Gambella, in Ethiopia, last November. The vast majority of South Sudanese refugees arriving in Ethiopia are women and children, often malnourished and in poor health.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, Ireland has provided almost €11 million to UN partners and non-governmental organisations working on the ground. I am committed to continuing Ireland’s support. On 9 February, our Ambassador to Kenya participated at a high level event in Nairobi which helped to build support for the response to this severe humanitarian crisis. We are now delivering on our pledge by providing a further €3 million for humanitarian assistance in South Sudan. This funding is being disbursed to the UN-managed Common Humanitarian Fund which provides flexible funding to UN and NGO partners to protect vulnerable women and children, and to meet food, nutrition and health needs. In addition, I expect to provide additional direct funding to our NGO partners for their work in South Sudan through Irish Aid’s Emergency Response Fund.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide assistance, within our means and as the situation evolves.