TROCAIRE has denounced as totally inadequate the EU presidency's statement on the continuing violence in Burundi.
Mr Justin Kilcullen, Trocaire's director, said Burundian society was disintegrating and all the EU could offer was platitudes.
On Wednesday, the Irish Presidency of the EU expressed deep concern about the situation, where thousands of people have died recently and where more mass killings are feared. Mr Kilcullen described this reaction as "morally and legally bankrupt".
He added that Government had to take effective action immediately to stop what was in effect genocide in Burundi. The situation in Burundi was so serious it could not await the return of Europeans from their holidays, Mr Kilcullen said.