Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 April 2019
53. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to his Nigerian counterparts concerning the killing of approximately 120 Christians in the Middle Belt region of the country in March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15774/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply concerned by the tragic events that took place recently in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. The violent clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary agrarian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region have escalated in recent years and pose a serious challenge to stability and security.
While the vast majority of herders are Muslim and many of the farmers are Christian, the roots of this violence lie in access to land, in a context of scarce natural resources due to rapid climate change in the Sahel.
Ireland works bilaterally, within the European Union, and with UN partners to promote peace and security in areas affected by armed groups and insecurity. Ireland’s Embassy in Abuja actively monitors developments in the country, advises on the humanitarian response, and supports Ireland’s engagement in EU and UN forums.
The humanitarian situation in Nigeria arising from the Islamist insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria affects millions of people. In 2018, Ireland provided €4.8 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region. The EU provided €90 million to the region. Ireland is one of the top ten donors to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund, which last year allocated €43 million to the Lake Chad region. With humanitarian need likely to remain acute in 2019, Irish funding will continue to target those most in need.
This violence is a reminder of the potential of climate change to fuel instability and humanitarian need. In our new international development policy, A Better World, the Government has committed to action to prevent dangerous climate change and to address the needs of those most vulnerable to its effects.
