David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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23. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on the current situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40485/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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49. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on his efforts internationally and at the UN to highlight the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan; the efforts he has made at the UN General Assembly to achieve a ceasefire and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40517/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 49 together.

The conflict in Sudan is causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Almost 26 million people - over half the country’s population - face acute hunger. More than 755,000 people are now experiencing famine conditions. Over 12 million people have been forcibly displaced inside Sudan or have fled to neighbouring countries.

The two main parties to the conflict - the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – are also deliberately blocking humanitarian access and have destroyed critical infrastructure. More than 75% of health facilities in the country are no longer functioning.

Although official estimates put the death toll at almost 20,000, the true number is likely to be significantly higher, with widespread attacks on civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, and attacks on humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure.

At the international conference on the Sudan crisis in Paris in April, Ireland pledged €12.3 million in humanitarian aid for 2024, an increase of €2 million on our 2023 contribution. This has already been exceeded, reaching €14 million with my announcement in September of an additional €1 million in humanitarian assistance. Ireland’s assistance includes support for partners working on peacebuilding and analysis of conflict dynamics, as well as for Sudanese civil society.

I am deeply concerned by the disproportionate impact that this conflict is having on women and girls. As part of our package of funding in 2024, Ireland provided a specific grant of €2 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for reproductive health for women and girls in Sudan and neighbouring countries and for victims of gender based violence.

To pressure the parties to end the conflict, Ireland championed the establishment of a new EU autonomous sanctions regime. The first set of targeted measures was announced in January against six companies, with six individuals listed in June.

Ireland has consistently prioritised support for accountability mechanisms at the Human Rights Council, including urging the renewal of the mandate of the Independent International Fact-finding mission for Sudan.

When I visited the Horn of Africa in July, I undertook to continue to keep Sudan on the international agenda. At the UN General Assembly last September, Sudan was a focus of my engagements, including participation in a Ministerial Humanitarian Meeting on Sudan. Both the Taoiseach and I will address the situation in Sudan and the EU response at the upcoming meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the European Council this month.

We will continue to work with the EU and international partners to promote an end to the conflict, to persuade the parties to come back to the negotiating table, and to permit humanitarian access and end all attacks on civilians.