Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2018
75. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic; the steps that have been taken to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16876/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is deeply concerned by the ongoing reports of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). CAR is the world’s third most fragile state, with very significant humanitarian needs. The United Nations estimates that 2.5 million people - more than half the population - require humanitarian assistance, 1.1 million people are moderately or severely food insecure. More than 690,000 people are internally displaced, and over 546,000 people are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. In line with our long standing support to neglected and forgotten crises, Ireland has consistently contributed to the humanitarian response in CAR and has provided over €25 million in humanitarian assistance since 2012, including over €5.2m in 2017.
Ireland also provides support to underfunded and forgotten crises through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a large UN fund that is used for immediate humanitarian response at the onset of emergencies, in rapidly deteriorating situations, and in protracted crises that fail to attract sufficient resources. Ireland is the eighth largest donor to the CERF.
Ireland allocates an additional €1 million per year to Concern for their work in CAR. Concern is one of the few organisations still present in these communities offering multi-sectoral support to internally displaced people, returnees and vulnerable people.
Ireland supports the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) which has been operational since 2014. Ireland also supports the EU Military Training Mission (EUTM) CAR to implement security sector reform with the Central African Armed Forces (FACA). The goal is to support the build-up of a modernised, effective, ethnically balanced and civilian controlled FACA.
In March this year, Ireland’s representative to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union (EU PSC), Ambassador Noel White, travelled with other EU PSC Ambassadors for a joint field visit to CAR with the Ambassadors’ Peace and Security Council of the African Union (PSC AU). The EU and AU Ambassadors conveyed common messages on continued engagement and support to the efforts for reconciliation, state building, justice and peace and solidarity with the people of CAR. The mission reconfirmed the need for close EU-AU-UN cooperation in the country.
The EU and AU Ambassadors met with the President and the cabinet of ministers of CAR: they also met with the National Assembly, with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in CAR, as well as with the Force Commander of the UN mission - MINUSCA. In addition, they also met with the panel of facilitators of the African Union’s initiative for peace and reconciliation in CAR and had an informal meeting with representatives of civil society.
Ireland will continue to monitor the situation and will ensure, with our EU and multilateral partners, to maintain the focus on preventing violence and addressing the humanitarian crisis.
