Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 7

Written Answers. - Southern Sudan Civil War.

Martin Cullen

Ceist:

22 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Irish Government is taking at European Union and United Nations level in relation to the plight of the people of Southern Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peadar Clohessy

Ceist:

47 Mr. Clohessy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Irish Government is taking at European Union and United Nations level in relation to the plight of the people of Southern Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 47 together.

Ireland has followed with concern the deteriorating situation in Sudan since the coup of 1989.

Southern Sudan in particular has had to endure much human suffering and misery as a result of the ongoing civil war and famine.

Ireland has frequently expressed concern about human rights violations in Sudan. The Irish Ambassador to Khartoum has, on instruction, discussed these concerns with the Sudanese authorities and the issue has also been raised by my Department with the ambassador of Sudan to Ireland. Ireland co-sponsored Resolutions on human rights in Sudan at the United Nations in 1992 and 1993, as well as at the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in early 1993.

In April 1993, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs visited Khartoum and raised Ireland's concerns about the humanitarian tragedy in the south. Following his visit, he wrote to UN Under Secretary-General Jonah, urging greater involvement by the UN on both the humanitarian and political fronts.

At my meeting in New York last September I raised the issue with UN Secretary-General Dr Boutros BoutrosGhali and discussed the situation in detail with him. I have also taken the matter up with the US authorities.

Ireland has also provided humanitarian assistance to help in alleviating the suffering and Irish voluntary organisations have been active in Sudan. In 1993, the Government allocated £1.26 million from the Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Fund for relief operations in Sudan. Most of this assistance has been channelled through Irish voluntary agencies such as Concern and GOAL for their respective emergency health and feeding programmes in Southern Sudan. In addition, we contributed £350,000 to the UN's Operation Lifeline Sudan. The conflict in Sudan has also created a huge problem of displaced people and we have contributed £100,000 to relief programmes from Sudanese refugees which are operated by GOAL, Concern and the Irish Mill Hill Fathers.

In addition to providing humanitarian assistance and food aid in Southern Sudan, Ireland has had a bilateral aid programme in Sudan since 1975. In 1993, the Government also provided £128,242 through the NGO Co-funding Scheme, in support of a number of small local projects undertaken by Irish and local Sudanese NGOs.