In 2016, Ireland provided over €190 million globally in humanitarian assistance to people affected by crisis and conflict, including in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria. The funding is directed towards the provision of life-saving assistance including food support, shelter, and the provision of basic services including health, education and water and sanitation.
In 2016, we also provided €7.5 million in core funding to UNICEF, the UN Agency which leads the work globally to provide clean drinking water in humanitarian crises. Water is a basic need and fundamental human right, but many people around the world, including in the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Nigeria, lack access to a safe, uncontaminated and local water supply. Access to a safe, sufficient, clean water supply is particularly difficult in conflict situations, due to displacement, lack of resources and disruption of services by armed groups.
The latest UNICEF figures on water and sanitation in emergencies show that, despite progress in many areas, significant work is still required to ensure that people in humanitarian situations can access sufficient water safely for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.
Specifically, Irish Aid works with partner organisations to meet the water, sanitation and hygiene needs of those affected by conflict and violence, as well as other humanitarian crises. Since the start of 2016, 7 water, sanitation and hygiene specialists from Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps have been deployed to support UNICEF’s and UNHCR’s humanitarian and emergency responses. We have also supported the UN to provide vulnerable communities with access to safe water in Yemen and elsewhere. The provision of safe, sufficient, regular and clean water supply is also a priority for the International Committee of the Red Cross, a key humanitarian partner for Ireland. ICRC water teams work in over 80 countries, including in Somalia, Nigeria and Yemen, providing water for populations affected by conflict and violence
Through such partnerships and through our engagement at international level on our humanitarian and development programmes, Ireland continues to support the rights of every man, woman and child to the essential resource of water.
