Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 2

Written Answers. - Sudanese Crisis.

Richard Bruton

Question:

34 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives, if any, he plans in order to highlight the deteriorating conditions for the people of Southern Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

65 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, the Government intends to take in relation to the worsening crisis in Sudan.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 65 together.

The Government has continued to draw attention internationally to the humanitarian crisis in Southern Sudan. Since Minister of State, Deputy Kitt's visit to Sudan in late April, we have been urging increased international humanitarian and political action to assist the people of the region. The issue has been raised with President Clinton and the US Administration, with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and at European community level.

A recent and welcome development is the appointment by the UN Secretary-General of a Special Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs for Sudan. Together with our partners in the Community, we will give our full support to his work. In addition, the Troika of EC Development Ministers will visit Sudan shortly in order to emphasise directly, to all parties involved, the Community's increasing concern at the humanitarian tragedy in the South.

Up to two million people remain at risk of starvation in Southern Sudan. Ultimately, a solution to this tragedy depends on the establishment of a lasting peace between the Government of Sudan and the SPLA and an end to the fighting between the factions of the SPLA in the South. We have provided a total of £1 million from the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Fund so far this year to Irish NGOs working in Southern Sudan and to the UN's Operation Lifeline Sudan. We will continue to press for additional resources to be made available by donors for the international humanitarian effort and for effective action by the Government of Sudan and the SPLA to ensure the security of aid workers and their safe access to all areas of need.