Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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360. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the current situation in South Sudan; the efforts being made by him and his European Union counterparts to secure peace in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8026/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The situation in South Sudan remains extremely challenging. As a result of the outbreak of conflict in December 2013 and recurrent natural disasters, South Sudan has become the world’s most fragile state. A peace agreement was signed in August 2015, but the ceasefire has not held. Violence and widespread human rights violations continue. The country is now facing one of the most severe large-scale humanitarian crises in the world.

The European Union has been supportive of the peace negotiations led by the countries of the region through the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), and has called consistently on the parties to implement the Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, signed in August 2015. Further support for the Agreement was underlined by Conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council in October 2015. Acting on these Conclusions, the EU has closely supported and followed the progress made by transitional institutions, in particular, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, a vital component of fulfilling the Agreement.

The EU remains ready to provide support to the Transitional Government of National Unity, if and when it is formed by the conflicting parties. This includes support towards the progression of the publication of Commission of Inquiry reports and the establishment of the Hybrid Court of South Sudan.

This year, it is estimated that 6.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan. Nearly 1.7 million people are displaced internally and a further 800,000 have taken refuge in neighbouring countries. The health services are overwhelmed and the country is liable to major public health risks and disease outbreaks.

The EU continues to be among the most significant donors to South Sudan. €62.5 million in humanitarian aid has been allocated by the European Commission so far this year, in addition to contributions from individual Member States.

Ireland is providing significant levels of humanitarian funding to South Sudan, with €5 million provided so far this year. This includes an allocation of €1 million earlier this month to the International Committee for the Red Cross/Red Crescent for humanitarian assistance within South Sudan, and €1 million to support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its work with South Sudanese refugees in the region. In March, Ireland provided €3 million to the UN-managed pooled fund for humanitarian assistance in South Sudan.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013, Ireland has provided a total of over €24 million to support UN agencies and NGOs in their humanitarian response, focused on preventing famine, providing vital nutrition supplies, water and child protection services.

We continue to monitor the situation in South Sudan closely through our Embassy in Addis Ababa and with our EU partners. Working also with our partners on the ground, we will continue to address the political, humanitarian and economic crises in South Sudan in the period ahead.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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361. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made by him and his European Union counterparts regarding the current situation in Mali; the efforts being made to ensure aid reaches those most in need in Mali given the reports of food shortages and starvation in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8027/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Mali has been in turmoil since the outbreak of violence in 2012. Although a peace agreement, the Algiers Accord, was signed in 2015, tensions remain high, especially in the north of the country. Jihadi Islamist groups attacked the Radisson Hotel in Bamako on 20 November 2015 and the premises of the UN’s Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Kidal on 28 November. On 12 February 2016, five UN peacekeepers were killed in a mortar attack.

Mali is afflicted by the combined effects of violence and political instability, poverty, and chronic food insecurity. It is estimated that 1.5 million of the country’s people depend on humanitarian assistance and that, in 2016, more than 300,000 will require emergency food assistance during the lean season, from June to September.

Since 2014, Ireland has provided over €2 million in humanitarian funding through various NGO partners in Mali. In 2015, Ireland also provided over €400,000 for a project which included support for the delivery of quality education to children with disabilities, some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

Under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, Ireland has contributed to the European Union Training Mission (EUTM Mali) since its establishment in 2013. Currently 10 members of the Defence Forces are deployed to this mission, and one Irish civilian with the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali.

The EU maintains strong political and development commitments in Mali through the presence of the EU Delegation in Bamako as well as nine resident Member State Embassies. As well as supporting the country in working towards a lasting peace, the EU is committed to inclusive and sustainable development in Mali. In 2015, EU humanitarian funding of €32 million was provided to assist those affected by malnutrition and the security crisis in Mali. The 11th European Development Fund (EDF) has allocated funding of €615 million to Mali for the period from 2014 to 2020. This includes a strong focus on reducing food insecurity and tackling malnutrition.

Ireland continues to monitor the situation in Mali, including through consultations and discussions with EU counterparts and with our partners on the ground.