Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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260. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the EU, UN and global community continue to focus on the activities of Boko Haram; the extent to which action has been taken to limit their power and authority in Nigeria; the number of hostages, including young women, still in captivity or released in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40784/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has consistently condemned the human rights abuses committed by Boko Haram, and has provided some €3 million this year in humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflict in north-eastern Nigeria. Boko Haram is a serious threat to the safety, stability and prosperity of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Some progress has been made by the Nigerian armed forces through joint efforts with neighbouring countries and assistance is being provided to large numbers of internally displaced people.

The EU and UN have continued to provide assistance to the Nigerian Government to create a safe and secure environment for its people. In August 2016, the EU pledged support of up to €50 million in support of the Multinational Joint Taskforce, which supports 8,700 troops from Nigeria and neighbouring countries to promote regional security. The EU has also contributed over €74 million in humanitarian assistance since 2014 to Nigeria.

The UN has estimated that thousands of people have been abducted or taken hostage by Boko Haram since 2012. More than 1,000 child abductees have escaped or been rescued. We have called consistently on all parties to work together to finalise the release of those taken hostage or abducted.

Ireland is engaging with the Nigerian authorities in conjunction with our EU partners. In addition, Ireland’s Ambassador to Nigeria recently visited Borno State and subsequently briefed the United Nations Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel on his assessment of the political and humanitarian situation in north-eastern Nigeria.

The UN continues to play an active role in leading the response to the grave humanitarian situation in north-eastern Nigeria as a result of the conflict with Boko Haram. Earlier this month, together with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Nigerian Government launched a Humanitarian Response Plan for 2017, which seeks more than $1 billion to address the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable in north-eastern Nigeria.

Ireland’s contribution of €3 million in 2016 includes an airlift of 110 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to north-eastern Nigeria and Niger to provide assistance for the large numbers of people displaced by the conflict. We have also deployed six personnel to various UN partners under the Irish Aid Rapid Response Initiative.

We are following the situation in the region closely, through our Embassy in Abuja, which remains in close contact with the Nigerian authorities on issues relating to the humanitarian emergency and the continued threat posed by Boko Haram.