Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
360. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the current situation in South Sudan; the efforts being made by him and his European Union counterparts to secure peace in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8026/16]
View answerThe situation in South Sudan remains extremely challenging. As a result of the outbreak of conflict in December 2013 and recurrent natural disasters, South Sudan has become the world’s most fragile state. A peace agreement was signed in August 2015, but the ceasefire has not held. Violence and widespread human rights violations continue. The country is now facing one of the most severe large-scale humanitarian crises in the world.
The European Union has been supportive of the peace negotiations led by the countries of the region through the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), and has called consistently on the parties to implement the Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, signed in August 2015. Further support for the Agreement was underlined by Conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council in October 2015. Acting on these Conclusions, the EU has closely supported and followed the progress made by transitional institutions, in particular, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, a vital component of fulfilling the Agreement.
The EU remains ready to provide support to the Transitional Government of National Unity, if and when it is formed by the conflicting parties. This includes support towards the progression of the publication of Commission of Inquiry reports and the establishment of the Hybrid Court of South Sudan.
This year, it is estimated that 6.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan. Nearly 1.7 million people are displaced internally and a further 800,000 have taken refuge in neighbouring countries. The health services are overwhelmed and the country is liable to major public health risks and disease outbreaks.
The EU continues to be among the most significant donors to South Sudan. €62.5 million in humanitarian aid has been allocated by the European Commission so far this year, in addition to contributions from individual Member States.
Ireland is providing significant levels of humanitarian funding to South Sudan, with €5 million provided so far this year. This includes an allocation of €1 million earlier this month to the International Committee for the Red Cross/Red Crescent for humanitarian assistance within South Sudan, and €1 million to support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its work with South Sudanese refugees in the region. In March, Ireland provided €3 million to the UN-managed pooled fund for humanitarian assistance in South Sudan.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013, Ireland has provided a total of over €24 million to support UN agencies and NGOs in their humanitarian response, focused on preventing famine, providing vital nutrition supplies, water and child protection services.
We continue to monitor the situation in South Sudan closely through our Embassy in Addis Ababa and with our EU partners. Working also with our partners on the ground, we will continue to address the political, humanitarian and economic crises in South Sudan in the period ahead.
