Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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12. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is monitoring the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/24]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his engagements with European partners regarding the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. [27491/24]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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More than 8 million people are displaced in Sudan, which is the same number as have been displaced from Ukraine. The country is on the brink of famine. There are widespread allegations of war crimes. The siege of Al-Fashir is now looking very like what we are seeing in Rafah. I am interested to hear what Ireland and the international community are doing in this sphere.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 37 together.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which has not received as much attention as it should in our national Parliament and in general discussions in Ireland. The Government shares the Deputy's serious concern at the situation in Sudan. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, well over a year ago, official estimates put the death toll at some 14,000. The true toll is likely to be significantly higher, with widespread attacks on civilians, appalling gender-based violence and attacks on humanitarian workers and infrastructure.

There have been repeated warnings from the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide that the risk factors for genocide and related crimes in Sudan are present and very much increasing. More than 12 million people have been displaced from their homes, comprising 10 million inside Sudan and 2 million as refugees outside the country. This makes Sudan the location of the largest displacement crisis in the world today. The conditions of conflict and the deliberate blocking of humanitarian access by both parties to the conflict are creating a humanitarian disaster.

Last week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned that famine was imminent in Sudan, with more than 2 million people at severe risk. In response to the crisis, Ireland has increased our support to the country. At the international conference on Sudan in Paris in April, at which I represented the Government, we pledged €12.3 million in bilateral aid for 2024. That aid is being delivered.

This is in addition to our core funding to key partners in Sudan, such as the UN World Food Programme and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. Humanitarian aid, however, is not enough to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. Ireland is working with European Union and international partners to promote an end to the conflict. We were to the fore in calling for the establishment of an EU sanctions regime to pressure the parties to come back to the negotiating table to permit humanitarian access and end attacks on civilians. The first set of targeted sanctions were announced in January. This week, on 24 June at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, we agreed a new package of measures aimed at six individuals responsible for undermining peace and security in Sudan, including attacks against civilians. At the UN Human Rights Council, we have prioritised support for accountability mechanisms, including championing a UN fact-finding mission to collect evidence of violations of international law. We are also working with partners to bolster the capacity of Sudanese civil society to help to bring an end to the conflict and return to a democratic transition.

The foremost question really is this: what is the situation in relation to progress towards a ceasefire? There have been a range of mediation initiatives to date. These have included regional efforts led by the African Union and the Treaty of Jeddah process led by the United States of America, Sudan and Saudi Arabia. The UN Secretary General has personally appointed his own envoy to the region and a high level panel on Sudan was established by the African Union in January 2024. Unfortunately, none of these efforts have succeeded in brokering a cessation of hostilities to date. Work must continue on this area.

Meanwhile, the EU special representative for the Horn of Africa, Dr. Annette Weber, has been encouraging greater co-ordination between the various initiatives that have taken place to date. We support Dr. Weber in her office and in her efforts. On 21 June the African Union Peace and Security Council issued a set of decisions that may create fresh momentum. An extraordinary summit on Sudan is under preparation alongside a new round of dialogue between civilian and political forces.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. Everything he sets out there is on the direction we need to travel but a concern is that there is not the urgency or the momentum to make it really stick. There is still a supply of weapons to the warring parties. Humanitarian aid is not getting through on the scale needed to prevent famine. I wonder to what extent the gathering of evidence of war crimes is to the standard we need to actually cause people to pause for thought. Obviously the sanctions are still not in place. It is a concern. Is there any way this can be elevated? From the Tánaiste's efforts on Gaza I know how difficult it is, even by taking a really proactive role, but this is a huge concern really. Eight million people are displaced. There is the threat of genocide. The disruption and displacement this will cause will have huge reverberations over the coming years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Before the Minister of State replies, perhaps he will also respond to Deputy Carthy's query.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I mentioned, we did take concrete actions at EU level in imposing sanctions just very recently. The big question is whether the warring parties are receiving support from outside the country. Unfortunately this is the case. A number of states from the Gulf to Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Russia are all alleged to be providing material and other supports for the warring parties. This clearly works against any push to return to the negotiation table. Together with our EU partners we have been very clear that this external engagement must end. This is really the primary focus at EU level for outside countries to stand back and let peace negotiations commence in the region without the influence of other governments and other countries that are assisting the different parties and thereby extending the actual conflict. In the meantime we are working on the sanctions. We want to get negotiations at an African level and other levels improved and commenced as soon as possible. In the meantime we want to continue delivering the humanitarian aid that has been placed at various conferences and which is making some impact. Obviously the situation is so serious on the ground that we need a ceasefire of hostilities in the first instance.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I will just make one comment on the wider situation. Is it not the case that migration is now disrupting European politics in a way that is extremely worrying? I welcome the EU migration pact, which we agreed in the House last night, but the truth is that war, displacement and climate change are building up massive problems for us in Africa. The seriousness with which this must be taken at international level has to be elevated in some way. I commend the Tánaiste and the Minister of State on their efforts. I do not for a moment doubt their commitment but we must persuade colleagues in the multinational communities that this is a priority that cannot be let fester.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is absolutely correct. This is having a significant regional impact as well. The arrival of waves of refugees in neighbouring countries, and economic and political implications of the conflict, are placing a strain on an already fragile region to the extent that people in neighbouring countries are at risk of being drawn into the war. This is a very serious situation. Two million people have already left Sudan. This is obviously causing strain in the adjoining countries where they have landed. Some of them are moving on into Europe as well. In South Sudan, for example, attacks on the Sudan pipeline have halted all oil exports, which is the country's main source of economic activity and stability. Economically we have a difficulty with issues like that. There are also people from outside the country providing military support. Then there is the issue of migration and people being forced to leave the country to seek safety. These factors are all the more reason we need to work to get a ceasefire in the region as quickly as possible.