Nora Owen
Question:104 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the World Vision Ireland document, "Sudan: The Continuing Costs of War". [20962/99]
Written Answers. - Sudanese Conflict.
I assure the Deputy that I have received copies of this document which raises again many of the issues which we face on a daily basis in deciding how to respond to complex emergency situations such as that taking place in Sudan. We are responding on a humanitarian and political level in concert with other like-minded countries. So far this year Ireland has given over £1 million in emergency and rehabilitation assistance to relieve the plight of the people of Sudan. I saw the situation for myself when I visited Sudan last year at the height of the crisis.
Humanitarian assistance is not, of course, a substitute for political action. During my visit to the country last year, I urged the Government of Sudan and the representatives of the SPLA/M to resolve their differences and to come to a peaceful solution, and I availed of the opportunity to reiterate Ireland's commitment to the peace process during meetings with the Sudanese Foreign Minister in Dublin in April and at the United Nations General Assembly in September. In addition, together with our international partners, Ireland continues to support actively the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) process, in an effort to advance a peaceful resolution to the conflict at an early date.