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Irish Aid

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Ceisteanna (654)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

654. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of aid allocated to Sudan by Ireland in the past three years; the amount that has been actually drawn down by Sudanese active organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32297/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland has provided development and humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people for many years. The country has been beset with a combination of both climate and natural disasters as well as continued human rights and poverty challenges for decades. The global coronavirus pandemic is further straining an already fragile social and health infrastructure.

Since 2018, Ireland has provided over €11 million in humanitarian funding to Sudan. This is channeled through trusted partners including UN Agencies and international NGOs, which has enabled us to respond with the highest priority projects being implemented by the best placed responders including in some instances by local Sudanese NGOs which work with our international partners.

The funds are allocated by our partners to different sectors based on the needs of the people affected the most including health, water and sanitation, shelter, protection, food and nutrition, education and support to build back livelihoods after a crisis.

Since 2018, Ireland has also provided over €5.6 million in longer-term development funding to Sudan, channeled through trusted international NGO partners, to support sectors including livelihoods, health, nutrition, water and sanitation. Our international NGO partners often work with local partners within these sectors.

In addition to our direct contribution to development, human rights and humanitarian relief in Sudan, since 2018, Ireland has contributed €32 million to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), a pool of stand-by funding available for rapid response by UN Agencies for support to humanitarian action wherever needs arise. This year, Sudan has been the top recipient of funds from the CERF and since 2018 has received €137.5 million from the Fund to support critical life-saving humanitarian needs. Other relevant humanitarian instruments to which Ireland contributes include the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), which has committed over €61 million to humanitarian assistance in Sudan this year and €580 million since 2011 for life-saving assistance to people in Sudan. Sudan also benefits from funding under the EU Trust Fund for Africa, to which Ireland is a contributor.

As well as our humanitarian and development support, Ireland is a strong supporter of Sudan’s ongoing democratic transition and the civilian-led transitional Government. Minister Coveney T.D., then Tánaiste, warmly welcomed the power sharing agreement reached in August 2019 and met with Sudan’s civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on the margins of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels in November 2019.

In June 2020, then Minister of State, Ciarán Cannon T.D. represented Ireland at the high level Sudan Partnership Conference hosted by Germany and the EU. He reaffirmed Ireland’s support for Sudan’s transitional Government and announced funding of US$500,000 to the World Bank Trust Fund for Sudan, for the Government’s flagship Family Support Programme, to support vulnerable families with cash transfers. Ireland was proud to be an early contributor to this important mechanism.

Ireland will continue to engage with our EU partners to ensure a strong and unified Team Europe response in support of Sudan, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which has significantly impacted Sudan. My officials continue to monitor developments in Sudan, including through Ireland’s Embassy in Nairobi, and in cooperation with the EU Delegation in Khartoum, and are looking at additional supports before the end of 2020.

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