EDITOR -  A report released by the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan on Thursday last week concluded that acts by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their late-October takeover of El Fasher, Darfur, showed the ‘hallmarks of genocide’.

The UN report lays bare the horror in El Fasher. It details systematic atrocities amid a siege that starved civilians and denied them humanitarian assistance.

The Mission documented coordinated and repeated identity-based attacks tied to ethnicity, gender, and perceived politics, resulting in mass killings, serious harm, widespread sexual violence against girls and women and girls ranging from seven to 70-years-old, torture, detention, and disappearances.

Sudan is facing an utterly catastrophic humanitarian emergency. Fighting continues to grip much of the country, displacing hundreds of thousands of people, with sexual violence alarmingly widespread and 4.2 million people acutely malnourished, with children worst affected.

Despite very limited funding, Plan International continues to respond, providing lifesaving assistance in Darfur and the Kordofan regions. We have heard first-hand from our teams in Darfur that women, girls and children have faced horrific sexual gender-based violence.

The specific, and unique needs of girls and women must not be overlooked. Rape and other acts of sexual violence are being used as a weapon of war in Sudan. Alongside other interventions, we are addressing the growing need for survivor-centred support.

We call on all armed actors in the conflict to immediately end and prevent the grave violations against children and guarantee the protection of civilians and humanitarian actors providing lifesaving support to the most affected, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.

Sudan’s people face the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Without an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian truce, and major scale-up in assistance programs, backed by more funding and guaranteed access, conditions will continue to deteriorate. Donors and governments have a moral responsibility to act now.

Mohammed Kamal,

Sudan’s Country Director,

Plan International Ireland.

The Government must do more for Gaza

EDITOR - UNICEF’s spokesperson James Elder has reported that: ‘More than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire of early October. That is roughly one girl or boy killed every day, during a ceasefire. Life in Gaza remains suffocating, and survival is still conditional. While the bombings and shooting have slowed during the ceasefire, they have not stopped.

‘What the world now calls “calm” would be considered a crisis anywhere else. Unfortunately, the ceasefire has had an unintended effect:  Palestinian children in Gaza have disappeared from view. Since the ceasefire UNICEF has recorded reports of at least 60 boys and 40 girls killed in the Gaza Strip. The 100 figure  only reflects incidents where sufficient details have been available to record, so the actual number of Palestinian children killed is expected  to be higher. Hundreds of children have been wounded.

‘I sat with one such victim a few days ago. Nine-year-old Abid Al Rahman was collecting firewood with his friends in Khan Younis when an airstrike hit. Shrapnel ripped into his eye; that shard of explosive metal is still lodged there.

‘At the same time, as strikes continue, severe restrictions remain on  many essentials in Gaza, from some essential medical supplies to cooking gas and fuel, to parts for lifesaving water and sanitation systems.’

Our Taoiseach and his government are aware that this silent genocide  continues in Gaza, so it beggars belief why they allow US planes with  the weapons for the Israeli genocide of Palestinians to refuel at Shannon?

The government are also aware that the majority of Irish people condemn this support for the US. We demand it stops now.

Daniel Teegan,

Union Hall.

Inheritance tax is unfair on young people

EDITOR - It makes no sense whatsoever for a nephew or niece, who may inherit a home valued at say €400,000, to then be saddled with a huge tax bill of €120,000 for that cherished family home, which then more than likely has to be sold to pay the tax due.

This needs to be reformed, because it is the cause of mass immigration. Younger people deserve better and not have to pay exorbitant rents, where they have to sell their house left to them by a relative to pay the inheritance tax.

Noel Harrington,

Kinsale.