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Foreign Conflicts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 December 2013

Thursday, 5 December 2013

Questions (47, 48)

Brendan Smith

Question:

47. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the escalating crisis in the Central African Republic at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52443/13]

View answer

Brendan Smith

Question:

48. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the activities carried out by Irish Aid in the Central African Republic; if these activities have been affected by the current hostilities there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52444/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.

The Government shares the concern about the deteriorating situation in the Central African Republic, in particular the reports of an alarming increase in inter-communal violence and gross violations of human rights. As highlighted by the UN Secretary General in his report to the Security Council on 15 November, this conflict has the potential to escalate, with untold consequences for the people of the Central African Republic and of the wider region.

I am also concerned at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, where with at least a quarter of the population is currently in need of humanitarian assistance. The worsening security situation is increasingly limiting humanitarian access to vulnerable populations in need of assistance. However, humanitarian organisations with a long-standing presence in the country, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Médecins sans Frontières, continue to secure negotiated access to affected populations in order to provide urgent relief.

Ireland has a clear commitment to addressing the effects of protracted crises, which often do not receive the attention they deserve. We are long-standing funders of the UN-administered Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for the Central African Republic. For a number of years, Ireland and Sweden, have been the two EU Member States to support this Fund, with Ireland providing an average annual contribution of over €2 million since 2009. In view of the recent deterioration of the situation in the Central African Republic and the related increase in acute humanitarian need, we welcome the recent decision by the Netherlands also to contribute to this Fund. This year, we have provided €2 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund, allowing the UN and NGOs present in the Central African Republic to undertake life-saving work with the most vulnerable communities.

I welcome the African Union peacekeeping Mission (MISCA), which is in the process of deployment in the Central African Republic. The UN is currently considering how best the international community can support the MISCA Mission.

Ireland is working closely with our European Union partners to monitor and coordinate efforts in response to the unfolding crisis in the Central African Republic, and I look forward to addressing the issues involved with my colleagues in the Foreign Affairs Council.

Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 41.
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