15 May 2012, 17:43
Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen TD met with Bishop Macram Max Gassis, Bishop of El Obeid and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee from the Republic of Sudan to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the State of South Kordofan.
Since June this year, over 300,000 people have been killed or evicted as a result of indiscriminate artillery shelling and attacks, caused by violent confrontation between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) in the Nuba Mountains. The situation poses serious threats to the lives and safety of the indigenous people in that region as humanitarian access is restricted.
At the meeting today Bishop Macram asked the Government and people of Ireland to help the people of the Nuba Mountains by:
• playing a role in seeking a ceasefire by the Government of Sudan, in particular, to cease its aerial bombardment of villages, schools and buildings;
• seeking to ensure that ground and air corridors are opened so that emergency aid can be delivered to deal with malnourishment and prevent starvation which is imminent;
• putting pressure on Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir to negotiate and explore ways to find a just solution for the people of the Nuba Mountains.
Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said: “I and members of the Committee are deeply concerned at the increasing tensions between and within Sudan and South Sudan, particularly the conflict in South Kordofan and the situation in the Nuba Mountains. We would like to express our support for the work being done by Bishop Macram and by Trócaire to ensure that needs-based humanitarian aid could be delivered to the people there.
The Chairman agreed to write to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to ask him to continue to highlight this issue, especially at EU level. The Chairman also noted that members would have an opportunity to discuss the situation on 24th May during the Committee's meeting with African Ambassadors to Ireland to mark Africa Day.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Dara Murphy, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.