Denis Naughten
Question:11 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide information on the political and humanitarian crisis in Sudan; and the EU’s response to human rights abuses. [18784/04]
View answerThursday, 24 June 2004
Questions (14, 15, 16)
Damien English
Question:13 Mr. English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the EU is taking in the Sudan to save lives threatened by a most serious famine; his views on whether the crisis was overlooked to date and has not received the attention that it deserves. [18789/04]
View answer
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:21 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he tabled any proposals at EU or UN level to deal with the crisis in the Sudan. [18870/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 13 and 21 together.
Over the course of the Irish Presidency, the EU was to the forefront of the international community in promoting urgent action to address the appalling humanitarian and human rights problem in Darfur. At its meetings in April, May and June, the External Relations Council expressed serious concern at the humanitarian and human rights violations in Darfur. It called on the Government of Sudan to provide unhindered and safe humanitarian access to the region. The EU has been clear in its condemnation of all human rights violations and particularly the actions of the Janjaweed militias. The Sudanese Government must take immediate action to adequately protect civilians against these violent militias. The EU has consistently conveyed this message to it.
The EU and the UN continue to work closely on the crisis in Darfur. On 3 June the EU and UN hosted a successful high-level donors' consultative meeting in Geneva that was co-chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Sudanese Government as well as the rebel groups operating in Darfur. Once again a strong message was conveyed by the EU, the UN and others on the need for immediate and unrestricted access to Darfur for humanitarian agencies. We are extremely concerned at the gross human rights abuses reported by the acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. My Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, met the Sudanese Government. He demanded that the human rights abuses be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. He also demanded unhindered access for the relief operation. The Sudanese Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs gave a commitment that human rights abuses would be investigated and that bureaucratic obstacles to the relief operation would be removed. This week EU heads of mission in Khartoum reported that visible progress was being made on the registration of international NGOs and visas for NGO staff members. They also said that the backlog of customs problems is being cleared. The situation will be kept under constant review.
The EU is working closely with the African Union to establish an AU-led ceasefire commission and monitoring mission for the Darfur region. In its role as EU Presidency, Ireland succeeded in assuring the establishment this past month of the EU's new African peace facility fund. We then pressed for a quick release of EU funding for the AU's initiative in Darfur. I am pleased that €12 million was allocated to the Darfur ceasefire commission from the EU's APF fund. The EU was invited to contribute observers to the ceasefire monitoring mission and Ireland nominated a military officer.
Yesterday I met the UN Secretary General in New York and we discussed Darfur. The UNSG expressed gratitude for the role of the EU in addressing the crisis. I welcome his announcement that he will travel to Darfur, Khartoum and Chad at the end of the month.
Sudan is a priority for Ireland's humanitarian assistance. So far this year we have committed €2.5 million to Darfur. We fund the provision of food through the World Food Programme and life-saving activities such as shelter, water and sanitation through NGOs. We have kept in close touch with aid agencies operating in the area. We have also made representations to ensure that visas were issued expeditiously to Irish development workers.
The situation in Darfur and western Sudan continues to require our immediate attention. However, I welcome the progress towards a comprehensive peace agreement between the Sudanese Government and the Southern People's Liberation Movement-Army. It should bring an end to 20 years of civil war in southern Sudan. The EU, together with the UN and the US, will continue to press both sides to sustain the momentum towards peace and to show a similar commitment to bringing peace to all of Sudan.