Bernard J. Durkan
Question:5 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures, if any, he proposes to take on a national and European level to alleviate the famine in southern Sudan. [12559/98]
Other Questions. - Sudanese Famine.
Fifteen years of conflict, a poor harvest and lack of access to vulnerable communities have resulted in a humanitarian crisis in parts of the south of the country. The worst affected communities are in Bahr-el-Ghazal, Equatoria and the Nuba Mountains. Estimates vary as to the number of people in need of immediate assistance. Figures given by aid agencies range between 400,000 and 700,000 people.
The Government has been actively engaged since 1994 in addressing the ongoing humanitarian emergency in southern Sudan. This was reflected in a total of £2,246,000 in food and other aid to the people of Sudan between 1994 and 1997. This does not include the bilateral programme in northern Sudan.
As soon as the extent of the present crisis started to become clear, the Government responded quickly to humanitarian needs and took action at political and humanitarian levels. A total of £800,000 was allocated during May to UN agencies and Irish NGOs to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. The Government of Sudan allowed increased access to the affected communities following an international outcry and assistance is now beginning to reach the most needy.
However, humanitarian assistance cannot be a substitute for a political solution. A number of actions have been taken to help galvanise international efforts in support of a peaceful political settlement. At the beginning of May, the Minister for Foreign Affairs wrote to express our concerns to the Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy, who is the chairman of IGAD. This body supports the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development which brought together the Sudanese Government and the SPLA in Nairobi for peace talks earlier this month. The Minister raised these concerns again last week with Foreign Minister Dini in Rome. At the General Affairs Council in Brussels we drew the attention of EU Foreign Ministers to the urgent need to actively support efforts to achieve a political settlement.
A number of actions have been taken at humanitarian and development levels. On 7 May the Irish Ambassador to Egypt, who is also accredited to Sudan, raised the Government's concerns about restricted humanitarian access directly with the Sudanese authorities. At my request, the humanitarian situation in Sudan was put on the agenda at the EU Development Council meeting on 18 May and a number of important conclusions were agreed regarding the approach to humanitarian assistance.
As a further expression of our concern, I will visit Khartoum from 6 to 7 June to convey the views of the Government to the Sudanese authorities on a number of issues, to press for continued access for humanitarian aid and to request them to work to bring about a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The Government will continue to work with the international community to ease the humanitarian crisis and to support efforts to find a peaceful political settlement.
To what extent, if any, do communications exist between the Government and representatives of the European Union with the agencies working in Southern Sudan, to ascertain the position on the ground and whether an immediate response, of a practical nature, can be provided? Apart from what has happened in the past couple of years which was laudable and necessary, do the Government and the European Union intend to respond to the emergency in that region?
As stated in my reply we had a long discussion at the recent meeting of development Ministers on 18 May on this issue. We were at pains to insist that we co-ordinate our efforts because co-ordination is so important in such a crisis, particularly since there is such limited access to the critical area in the south. The whole humanitarian effort is being co-ordinated by Operation Lifeline Sudan — a consortium of UN agencies and NGOs. The world food programme manages the overall logistics including a massive air operation to deliver assistance. Since the lifting of the flight ban by the Government of Sudan — this only came about as a result of international effort from all our EU partners and America — the actual delivery of food has doubled. Transport by road is very difficult because of insecurity and the onset of the rainy season. The weather is also causing problems with the airlifts as most of the air strips are small dirt landings. Every effort is being made to increase the amount of food reaching those in need.
The Government has been allowing access but international pressure must continue to ensure that access continues to be available. Access has been the difficulty, not money. All our European partners are ready and willing to give humanitarian assistance. In the past four weeks, through UNICEF, Trócaire and World Vision, we have donated £800,000 to that effort. The same effort is being made by all our European partners. We are monitoring the situation to ensure that access is kept open. This is a civil war. This matter is a fallible process and has to be kept under review on a daily basis.