Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to bring an end to conflict in Sudan; the assistance provided to civil society organisations in the country in light of the humanitarian crisis; the number of Irish citizens resident in Sudan; the efforts to date and planned for their safe passage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40617/24]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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17. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he has taken to date to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36389/24]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his efforts at the United Nations General Assembly to achieve a ceasefire and alleviate humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. [40492/24]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 17 and 18 together.

The Government is gravely concerned by the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Some 25.6 million people - over half the population of Sudan - face acute hunger. This includes more than 755,000 people already experiencing famine conditions. Sudan is now the world's largest hunger, protection and displacement crisis.

The conflict has involved extreme levels of violence and human rights violations against civilians. This includes sexual violence, torture, arbitrary killings, destruction of vital health and food infrastructure, and targeting of specific ethnic groups.

Ireland’s response has addressed both the humanitarian crisis and the political roots of the conflict.

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 2023. We have exceeded this amount. Following my announcement in September of an additional €1m in bilateral support, we have provided €14 million so far this year.

Ireland’s assistance includes support for partners working on peacebuilding, as well as for Sudanese civil society. Sudanese civil society has been critical to humanitarian assistance and protection. Ireland has also promoted the use of flexible funding to facilitate support for Sudanese-led action, in particular community kitchens and Emergency Response Rooms. Sudanese civil society are vital ‘first responders’ on the ground. Ireland has also provided specific funding for reproductive health for women and girls in Sudan and neighbouring countries and for victims of gender based violence.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has assisted more than 350 Irish citizens and their dependents to leave Sudan since the onset of the conflict in April 2023. Our Embassy in Nairobi, which is accredited to Sudan, continues to monitor the situation in Sudan actively and to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens as required.

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 and to highlight the impact of the crisis. At the UN General Assembly last September, Sudan was a priority focus of my engagements, including participation in a Ministerial Humanitarian Meeting on Sudan. Both the Taoiseach and I will highlight the situation in Sudan at the upcoming meeting of the European Council and at the October Foreign Affairs Council.

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