Rinne an Seanadóir O’Loughlin tagairt don Lá Idirnáisúnta Cearta Daonna inniu. I want to amplify that a little in the context of the situation that pertains in South Sudan, where, since independence in 2011, there have been two civil wars and one border conflict. South Sudan is led - I use that word advisedly - by the corrupt and brutal dictatorship of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is a Catholic. Some 60% of the people of South Sudan are Christian. South Sudan has immense oil reserves, hence the international interest in the country. It was one of the richest countries in the region on gaining independence. It is now almost ranked as the poorest. Three quarters of the 12 million people in South Sudan rely on humanitarian aid. In the Transparency International Corruption Index, South Sudan came in at 180 out of 180. The medical expenses of the 650-strong national parliament were more than triple the health ministry's entire budget. More has been spent on the President's medical unit than on the combined national education and healthcare budgets. President Mayardit has ordered the UN mission in South Sudan to cut its operations by 70%, with odious outcomes for the safety and survival of the people. In the 14 years since independence, South Sudan has never engaged with anything as troubling as an election. Elections have always been promised, but an excuse has always been formulated to postpone holding them. The so-called peace deal reached in 2018 was supposed to end the strife but has not delivered. The vice president, who is a member of the Nuer, the other tribal unit in South Sudan, is under house arrest and has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity.

We know of all the terrible situations that exist in the world, but this is one that is going under the radar. I wonder if the Minister for foreign affairs could brief the House on the situation in South Sudan and what the United Nations and our Government are doing to respond to the tragedy that happening there.