Jimmy Deenihan
Question:107 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Government policy towards relief aid for Sudanese refugees.
Written Answers. - Aid for Sudanese Refugees.
Mary Flaherty
Question:125 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the response which he has made to the combined appeal by Irish church leaders in relation to the worsening crisis in the Sudan; and if he will ensure, through the United Nations and the EC, that the necessary relief aid reaches the displaced and refugee Sudanese populations in appropriate quantities and with the utmost urgency.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 125 together.
The Government share the concern about the situation in the Sudan expressed by the leaders of the main churches in Ireland in their combined appeal of 3 September 1991.
I have informed the church leaders that the Government fully agrees that everything possible should be done to alleviate the terrible sufferings which are affecting the Sudanese people.
As Deputies are aware, a major effort has been initiated by the world community to tackle the situation in the Sudan. In particular, the European Community initiated a special programme for famine relief in Africa, with the purpose of mobilising 600,000 tonnes of extra food aid from the Community and its member states, in addition to previous EC pledges of approximately 1 million tonnes. A large part of this operation, of the order of 25 per cent has been to assist the people of the Sudan. The relief deliveries in question have been contracted for and the supplies are either on their way or already delivered.
Ireland has participated in this effort. Furthermore, during 1991 the Government provided £440,000 in emergency relief for Sudan through Irish and international relief agencies. Of this, £75,000 was allocated to UNICEF for Operation Lifeline Sudan and £250,000 to the World Food Programme for famine relief in the Sudan. Both are involved in the course of their activities in providing assistance to the huge numbers of refugees and displaced persons there. As many of the refugees are situated in the south, access to them is a major problem and has necessitated combined airdrop and barge operations.
The information available to me indicates that, while there are areas of great need, especially in North Kordofan and North Darfur as well as in Southern Sudan, the most pressing need is not for further pledges but to find ways of delivering the food which is already available.
Unfortunately, the Government of Sudan has not been fully supportive at all times of the relief programme. In an effort to maximise co-operation and facilitate the delivery of relief aid, United Nations agencies have held discussions at very high level with the Sudanese authorities. Ireland strongly supports these efforts. I am informed that, in the most recent past there has been an improvement in the level of co-operation forthcoming from the authorities and particularly from the Central Government which recently has made transport available to NGOs. However, the situation is far from ideal and pressure will need to be maintained.
Together with my colleagues in the European Community, I am keeping the situation in the Sudan under constant review. Close contact is being maintained with the appropriate UN agencies to monitor the implementation of the relief effort. Should additional resources again become necessary, the Government will examine carefully what additional contribution Ireland can make.