Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which the incidents of war, ethnic cleansing, human rights abuses and the use of child soldiers continue in the Horn of Africa; if direct or indirect international aid is having a positive impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48663/17]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned at ongoing incidents of conflict and violence in the Horn of Africa. Conflict and violence, together with the impact of climate change, lead to loss of livelihoods and acute hunger, and drive massive population displacements and humanitarian needs across the region. Ethnic violence, grave human rights abuses and the recruitment of child soldiers are a feature of many of the conflicts in the region.

Ireland, together with our EU and UN partners, will continue to support conflict resolution in South Sudan. This conflict has now taken on an increasingly ethnic dimension and widespread human rights abuses are carried out by all parties. We fully support the efforts underway, led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, to revitalise the peace process and the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement.

The overall security situation is Somalia remains extremely fragile, and Al-Shabaab’s insurgency continues to threaten the stability of the country. The EU is providing considerable support for AMISOM, the African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia, and is supporting highly effective capacity building operations focused on maritime security and military training, as part of its Common Security and Defence Policy.

Ireland’s humanitarian assistance to the Horn of Africa region, which amounts to €138 million over the 2012-2017 period, is having a positive impact. We are working through a range of UN, NGO and Red Cross partners providing shelter and protection to displaced populations, providing emergency food assistance and livelihoods support, treating acute malnutrition, and providing emergency services in water and sanitation, education and healthcare to vulnerable communities.

Ireland also provides significant amounts of longer-term development assistance in the Horn of Africa. For example, this year Irish Aid’s development assistance programme in Ethiopia is providing €29 million to support the poorest people in the country through social protection, agriculture, health, nutrition and programmes. Irish Aid also supports the development work of missionary and civil society organisations across the region.

Together with our EU and UN partners, and through our Embassies on the ground, we will continue to closely monitor crises across the Horn of Africa, support political efforts to resolve conflicts, end ethnic violence and human rights abuses, and target our overseas assistance to communities most in need.