Vol. 529 No. 1
278 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has encouraged the UN and-or the EU towards greater involvement in disaster and famine relief on the African continent; if any specific new strategies have been determined in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/01]
In January, the World Food Programme presented a world hunger map, which illustrates the extent of global hunger, now estimated as affecting 830 million people around the world. Africa, where Ireland has six priority country programmes, is of particular concern. Many local conflicts have spilled over to span large regions of the continent. In the Greater Horn of Africa alone, 16 million people who suffer from conflict and drought will continue to need assistance. In 2000, Ireland Aid funded over £8.5 million in emergency relief and rehabilitation programmes in Africa. Emergency assistance funding to Africa last year represented almost 70% of the total emergency assistance budget. This follows the pattern of Ireland Aid's committed responses to humanitarian crises in Africa which have included Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Angola, Sierra Leone and other countries in close co-operation with UN and EU partners.
Ireland has also actively supported the UN and the EU in their efforts to improve their ability to respond effectively to such humanitarian disasters. During the crisis in the Horn of Africa last year, Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, wrote to Commissioner Nielson expressing our concerns in this regard, and urging the European Commission to intensify its efforts to deliver food aid swiftly. In that context, Ireland has been participating in a major study intended to improve the effectiveness of EC food aid and food security policy. This study recommended a number of changes to EU policy in this area to make it more effective and responsive. These included , inter alia, a refocussing of efforts towards strategic and sectoral issues, the introduction of country strategy papers to assist in streamlining and harmonising rules and procedures and closer co-ordination of efforts with NGOs and recipient governments. The Commission intends to bring forward a communication, based on this study, which it hopes to present to the Development Council later this year with a recommendation to enhance the responsiveness and effectiveness of EC food aid.
In the aftermath of a number of recent conflicts and emergencies in Africa, notably the floods in Mozambique, there is a growing debate on how the international community working through the United Nations can most effectively react. One possible way of responding quickly to such future crises is through the establishment of a UN rapid reaction force, capable of responding immediately to crises. There is considerable focus at the UN on the need for clarification of the principles and the establishment of agreed criteria for intervention by other member states. The requirements of humanitarian intervention must be reconciled with other principles, such as national sovereignty or non-intervention as established by the UN Charter. These are very real and sensitive issues which Secretary General Annan has encouraged the international community to consider urgently.
280 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will increase Ireland's contribution to overseas development aid in 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2582/01]
281 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he proposes to increase Ireland's contribution and involvement in the bilateral aid development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2583/01]
282 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he will establish new contacts under the bilateral aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2584/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 to 282, inclusive, together.
The Government last September made the formal decision to move toward the target set by the United Nations for assistance to poorer countries of 0.7% of gross national product with a view to reaching that level in 2007. In addition, the Government renewed its commitment to reaching an interim target by 2002 of 0.45% of GNP.
As proof of its determination to honour the double commitment, the Government has pre-agreed the financial allocations for the core part of official development assistance, Vote 39 – the Vote for International Co-operation – for the three years 2001, 2002 and 2003.
The figures involved are as follows:
|
Year |
Estimated ODA% |
Estimated Total ODA£m |
Other ODA(Non-Vote 39)£m |
Vote 39£m |
Annual IncreaseVote 39£m |
Annual Increase% |
|
2000 |
0.31% |
208.243 |
72 |
137 |
||
|
2001 |
0.35% |
260.225 |
72 |
188* |
52 |
38% |
|
2002 |
0.45% |
365.175 |
72 |
293* |
105 |
56% |
|
2003 |
0.48% |
419.132 |
72 |
347* |
54 |
18% |
