I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 57, 66 and 67 together.
As Deputies will be aware, I visited Sudan from 22 to 25 April 1993. I had meetings in Khartoum with representatives of the Government of Sudan and of donor agencies and Governments. In the South, I visited Nimule, Ashwa and Kongor, as well as the operations base of Operation Lifeline Sudan at Lokichokio in Northern Kenya. In Nairobi I met Dr. John A. Garang and Dr. Lam Akol, representing the different factions of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, the SPLA.
The humanitarian situation in southern Sudan is very bad. Many people have died in recent months and many more, in particular young children and mothers are at risk. The exact figures are not known. The principal cause of the crisis is the continuing conflict between the Government of Sudan and the SPLA, and between the different SPLA factions.
I raised with the Government in Khartoum and with the faction leaders the issue of access for humanitarian aid workers to reach southern Sudan and for their security. An agreement has been worked out by the UN with the Government, the factions and the relief agencies. I was given every assurance that this agreement would be faithfully implemented. I am aware, however, that the agencies continue to face problems in getting access, in particular from the north. The alternative routes, from northern Kenya and northern Uganda, are easier, but cannot, of course, service the northern part of southern Sudan. In March last an allocation of £500,000 was made from the Emergency Humanitarian Relief Fund to a number of agencies working in Sudan. As a result of my recent visit, an additional allocation of £500,000 has been made to GOAL, CONCERN and UNICEF, bringing to a total of £1 million the amount allocated to Sudan for emergency humanitarian assistance this year.
Ireland has taken up the issue of Sudan with both the European Community and the United Nations, both as regards the need to increase the humanitarian effort and as regards the need to resolve the political issues. We shall continue to urge all necessary action in order to ensure that the present appalling situation is brought to an end.
I emphasised to the Sudanese Government representatives and to the SPLA leaders whom I met that they must work for a lasting ceasefire and a long term peace effort. Only these factors will ultimately solve the problem.