John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the ongoing conflict in Tigray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49015/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The situation in Tigray and in other parts of northern Ethiopia remains of grave concern.

The conflict in Ethiopia has had a devastating impact on civilians, with many killed or injured, and reports of widespread human rights violations. The report published last month by the UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia presents further alarming details of the human rights and humanitarian situation, including reports of the use of starvation as a method of warfare as well as the systematic use of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. Over 13 million people in the region are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

The resurgence of fighting in August has put in serious jeopardy the progress made since the declaration of a ceasefire in March and has had a serious impact on the delivery of humanitarian aid. It is critical that deliveries resume, urgently, and that essential services such as banking and telecommunications are restored.

Ireland strongly supports efforts at mediation led by the African Union, and we encourage and support EU, UN and other efforts to assist this work.

We have consistently raised this crisis, and particularly the issue of humanitarian access, at the UN Security Council and within the European Union.

The conflict was discussed, informally, at the Security Council on 28 September. At that meeting Ireland called for an immediate end to violence, full humanitarian access, and the resumption of peace talks. The situation will be on the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 October.

In addition to our work to ensure an international focus on resolving this crisis, Ireland continues to take action directly to alleviate the humanitarian toll of the conflict. We provided some €25 million for the humanitarian response in Ethiopia last year, with a similar level of support this year.