Matt Carthy
Ceist:65. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his engagements with European partners regarding the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. [20779/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 9 May 2024
Ceisteanna (65, 73)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:73. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation in Sudan; the engagement he has had with his European counterparts in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20587/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 73 together.
Over one year since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, the main parties to the violence are no closer to a negotiated solution. Fighting continues between military factions: the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict is having devastating humanitarian, human rights, and regional security consequences.
Both parties are significantly impeding humanitarian access, in addition to destroying health and food infrastructure. They are also responsible for large-scale attacks on civilians, including sexual violence, and ethnically-targeted killings.
The official death toll stands at 14,000, but is likely to be much higher. Almost 8 million people have been displaced from their homes, and 20 million people are facing acute levels of food insecurity. On 12 April, international humanitarian partners issued a Famine Prevention Plan for Sudan.
In response to the crisis, Ireland has increased its humanitarian support to the people of Sudan, and stepped up diplomatic engagement.
In 2023, we provided a total of €10.3 million in assistance to Sudan, and to address the impact of the conflict in neighbouring countries. Last month, at the international conference for Sudan in Paris, I announced that, in 2024, Ireland will contribute at least €12.3 million to respond to the crisis. This is in addition to our funding to multilateral agencies, such as the World Food Programme and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, which are also increasing their assistance to Sudan.
A ceasefire is desperately needed, however, to end this man-made catastrophe.
Ireland has advocated for the adoption of EU sanctions targeted at those attacking civilians and denying access to humanitarian assistance. We have also championed the creation of a UN Fact-Finding Mission to collect evidence of violations of international law. As co-chair at the United Nations of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, we have strongly advocated for monitoring of the food security situation by the UN Security Council.
In EU discussions and at the UN, Ireland has consistently emphasised the need to put civilians and civil society, rather than military factions, at the centre of any political solution in Sudan. In line with this, we are supporting partners to bolster the capacity of Sudanese civil society to work together to bring an end the conflict and design a return to democratic transition.
We have also advocated successfully for donors to take a flexible approach to funding local civilian groups which are providing critical food aid and protection in areas which international humanitarian responders cannot reach.
We will continue to engage closely with our European and international partners to address the suffering of the Sudanese people, and to find ways to promote an end to the conflict.