Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
361. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made by him and his European Union counterparts regarding the current situation in Mali; the efforts being made to ensure aid reaches those most in need in Mali given the reports of food shortages and starvation in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8027/16]
View answerMali has been in turmoil since the outbreak of violence in 2012. Although a peace agreement, the Algiers Accord, was signed in 2015, tensions remain high, especially in the north of the country. Jihadi Islamist groups attacked the Radisson Hotel in Bamako on 20 November 2015 and the premises of the UN’s Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Kidal on 28 November. On 12 February 2016, five UN peacekeepers were killed in a mortar attack.
Mali is afflicted by the combined effects of violence and political instability, poverty, and chronic food insecurity. It is estimated that 1.5 million of the country’s people depend on humanitarian assistance and that, in 2016, more than 300,000 will require emergency food assistance during the lean season, from June to September.
Since 2014, Ireland has provided over €2 million in humanitarian funding through various NGO partners in Mali. In 2015, Ireland also provided over €400,000 for a project which included support for the delivery of quality education to children with disabilities, some of the country’s most vulnerable people.
Under the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, Ireland has contributed to the European Union Training Mission (EUTM Mali) since its establishment in 2013. Currently 10 members of the Defence Forces are deployed to this mission, and one Irish civilian with the EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali.
The EU maintains strong political and development commitments in Mali through the presence of the EU Delegation in Bamako as well as nine resident Member State Embassies. As well as supporting the country in working towards a lasting peace, the EU is committed to inclusive and sustainable development in Mali. In 2015, EU humanitarian funding of €32 million was provided to assist those affected by malnutrition and the security crisis in Mali. The 11th European Development Fund (EDF) has allocated funding of €615 million to Mali for the period from 2014 to 2020. This includes a strong focus on reducing food insecurity and tackling malnutrition.
Ireland continues to monitor the situation in Mali, including through consultations and discussions with EU counterparts and with our partners on the ground.
