Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

127. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to help address the humanitarian need in Sudan as a result of hostilities in the region. [21239/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government is deeply concerned by the current situation in Sudan. The ongoing violence is exacerbating what was already a severe humanitarian crisis in the country. Almost 16 million people – one third of population – were in need of humanitarian assistance even before the recent outbreak of violence. Humanitarian operations have been severely disrupted by the fighting but Ireland’s humanitarian partners are making contingency plans to provide assistance to those in need where possible.

Ireland has been a longstanding partner to the people of Sudan, providing over €35 million in aid since 2018. This includes humanitarian assistance, as well as development, peace, and human rights programmes. In March, we provided €3 million to the UN Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which supports local organisations in delivering humanitarian asssistance. In addition, we have provided funding for development and humanitarian aid to three Irish NGOs with operations in Sudan, bringing Ireland’s total direct assistance to Sudan so far in 2023 to €6.2 million. Ireland is also funding programmes through the UN, Red Cross and Irish NGOs in bordering countries, now dealing with thousands of people displaced and fleeing conflict.

Ireland has also contributed to the humanitarian response through our support to multilateral humanitarian funds such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Ireland is currently the 6th largest donor to the CERF, and has contributed €12.5 million so far this year in core funding. The CERF has already provided €18 million to Sudan this year. The International Red Cross, to which Ireland provides annual core funding, has released €400,000 to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society working with affected communities since the start of the crisis, and was one of the first to mobilise a rapid deployment team and send an initial life-saving cargo of medical supplies to Sudan.

Since the outbreak of conflict, the Tánaiste has consistently called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the facilitation of humanitarian access. On 21 April, officials from the Department also met with the Ambassador of Sudan to Ireland to discuss the crisis and to emphasise the obligation on the authorities to ensure the protection of all civilians and the provision of humanitarian access.

We will continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Sudan in the weeks ahead and will work closely with our EU and other partners for an end to the conflict.