Green Senator calls for strong condemnation of human rights abuses

Green Party Senator and Dublin candidate for the European elections, Deirdre de Burca, has called on the Irish Government to use its influence to call for immediate humanitarian intervention in Zimbabwe. Senator de Burca spoke at a rally in Dublin on Saturday, which was jointly organised by Trocaire and the Zimbabwean community in Ireland.

“The situation in Zimbabwe is very desperate” said de Burca. “There are serious food shortages, millions of people are suffering severe hunger and an outbreak of cholera has killed hundreds to date. Schools and hospitals have closed down due to a lack of funds. This is a very real and terrible humanitarian crisis which is unfolding. The Irish Government must use its influence to ensure that humanitarian access is immediately established and that aid is provided to the Zimbabwean people in order to avoid a crisis of appalling proportions”.

De Burca also called for the Irish government to condemn in the strongest terms possible the recent abduction of the human right’s activist, Jestina Mukoko and to demand information about her whereabouts. “Jestina worked closely with Trocaire in this country and visited Ireland on several occasions” said de Burca. “She was a brave and determined human rights activist who undoubtedly angered Robert Mugabe and his regime through highlighting the human rights  abuses that are occurring in Zimbabwe“.

De Burca said that the Irish Government must use its influence within the EU to call for immediate action with regard to the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.

“Pressure must be brought to bear on the African Union to take the necessary action to avert what will otherwise be a devastating humanitarian crisis” she said. “The EU is best placed to bring this kind of pressure to bear on the states that belong to the African Union. However, through Irish Aid, Ireland also has very strong bilateral relationships with certain African states. Our government needs to act quickly to ensure that the dire situation in Zimbabwe is immediately addressed through a comprehensive programme of humanitarian aid”.  

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Press Release by Deirdre