Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
325. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to engage with the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Mark Lowcock, regarding the pending risk of large-scale famine in Yemen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5411/21]
View answerThe conflict in Yemen, which began in 2015, is the principal cause of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, affecting its capacity to address other serious problems such as flooding, cholera and COVID 19. Along with the UN and the EU, Ireland believes that the only way to bring about a long-term sustainable improvement in Yemen is through a negotiated end to the conflict. The UN has been warning for some months of the risk of famine in Yemen, underlining the seriousness of the situation there and the urgency that is needed to address it.
Ireland is in regular contact with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which Mr. Lowcock heads, from Dublin as well as through our Missions in Geneva and New York. We rank as one of the top 20 donors to OCHA’s core activities over recent years. Ireland also provides core funding to the OCHA-managed humanitarian pooled funds - the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Yemen Humanitarian Fund.
Mr. Lowcock briefed the UN Security Council on 14 January when, along with the World Food Programme Executive Director, Mr. David Beasley, he again warned of the threat of famine. Ireland’s Permanent Representative told the Council that, faced with this catastrophe, the international community must spare no effort to ensure protection and humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable, including internally displaced persons and marginalised groups.
Given the deteriorating situation, Ireland in December provided an additional €1 million to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, which is managed by OCHA, because of the urgency and scale of the humanitarian needs in Yemen. In 2020, Ireland provided €6 million in funding to this Yemen Fund, which mobilises and channels funding to NGOs and UN agencies that are best placed to deliver lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable. In total, Ireland has contributed over €28 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen since 2015.
Ireland also provides significant humanitarian funding at the global level, including to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). In 2020, the CERF provided almost €54 million in funding to Yemen. As an EU Member State, Ireland also contributes to the EU response to the crisis in Yemen. Since 2015, the EU has allocated over €554 million in humanitarian aid to Yemen.
