111. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will raise EU coordination of humanitarian assistance to Sudan in the context of the relevant Council meetings as part of Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51631/26]

More than three years of conflict in Sudan have resulted in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with ongoing violence continuing to have a devastating impact on the Sudanese people. We are particularly concerned about the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) current offensive on the city of El Obeid, which puts countless civilian lives at risk and worsens an already dire humanitarian crisis.

As a key donor to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is in contact with the UN country team, the EU Commission and other EU Member States, to support sustained and coordinated humanitarian assistance throughout Sudan, including into El Obeid; and common messaging for rapid, unhindered and sustained access and for the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel.

I attended the International Sudan Conference in Berlin on 15 April, where the EU and its Member States, including Ireland, pledged over €812 million in humanitarian assistance to respond to the Sudan crisis. Ireland will significantly increase our humanitarian assistance this year to €21 million from €14.3 million in 2025. Our funding will be channelled through trusted partners in order to reach the most vulnerable. On 12 June, we launched a call for proposals from Irish NGO partners working on the ground in hard to reach areas in Sudan.

On 3 July, Ireland took a leading role in a UN Human Rights Council urgent debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid. This followed a joint Ministerial Statement signed by Minister McEntee on 23 June, calling on all parties to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to El Obeid and for civilians to be allowed leave safely.

Ireland has consistently raised the humanitarian impact of the Sudan crisis at meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, including playing an active part in the formulation of the October 2025 Council Conclusions on Sudan. During our EU Presidency, Ireland will continue to ensure a continued focus on Sudan at EU level, including by putting a focus on humanitarian diplomacy as a means to ensure sustained access to crisis-affected communities.