Niall Collins
Question:35. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the situation in Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46311/18]
View answerThursday, 8 November 2018
Questions (35)
Written answers
The crisis in Yemen is a source of grave concern, and reports of the imminent threat of famine, of violations of basic human rights, and of significant public health challenges are incredibly worrying. Yemen has experienced over three years of armed conflict which has been the driving force in a devastating, protracted humanitarian crisis. The UN reports that 17.8 million people are currently food insecure, including 8.4 million severely so – 24% more than in 2017. Critical public services in education, water and sanitation are increasingly limited, and the public healthcare system has collapsed. The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Lise Grande, has warned that as many as 13 million civilians are at risk if the fighting continues. Ireland joins our EU partners in urging all parties to cooperate in order to achieve a political resolution, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access and the free flow of commercial goods. However, it is crucial that we also push for a resolution of the conflict which is the ultimate cause of the suffering of so many civilians. This has been one of my consistent messages to all parties to the conflict. Officers from my Department consistently convey the Government’s strong concerns to the Saudi, United Arab Emirates and Iranian Embassies in Dublin. And I myself met with the Saudi Ambassador last month and stressed the importance that Ireland puts on this issue. Ireland and its EU partners are in agreement on the need to continue our strong support for the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Mr. Martin Griffiths, to re-start negotiations so as to bring about a political resolution of the conflict. I welcome the US statements last month in favour of a cessation of hostilities, and I believe that this should act as an impetus for the resumption of negotiations. The UN Special Envoy is working to bring the parties together for a new round of peace talks which may take place as early as later this month. Alarmingly, however, on the ground recent days have seen an escalation in fighting, particularly around the critical port of Hodeidah, which is the entry point for an estimated 70% of goods imported into Yemen.
Ireland is doing what we can to address the devastating humanitarian situation and try and help alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. Since 2015, Ireland has provided almost €16.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen. This includes a contribution of €4 million made to the UN Yemen Humanitarian Fund this year, which provides assistance in the areas of education, logistics, food security, nutrition and health.
Ireland also provides humanitarian support to Yemen through our contributions to EU funds. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, the EU has contributed a total of €438.2 million to Yemen, which includes humanitarian, development, stabilisation and resilience support.
Ireland is using our leverage in other multilateral fora to focus on the situation in Yemen. At the Human Rights Council in September 2017 Ireland was part of a core group of countries which ensured the establishment of a Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen to investigate alleged violations of human rights and contraventions of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict. In September of this year, Ireland worked to ensure the extension of the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts for another year.