Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
443. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland can influence the international community to direct further humanitarian aid to those suffering as a result of the invasion of the Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23418/22]
View answerThe evolving humanitarian situation in Ukraine and for those who have fled Ukraine is of grave concern.
At both EU and UN, Ireland has been active in encouraging coordinated international responses to those affected by the Russian invasion, including reporting on Minister Coveney's 14 April visit to Kyiv.
In its review of Ireland’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) published in 2020, the OECD found Ireland to be an excellent humanitarian partner, with a large share of ODA going to fragile contexts. This report highlighted how Ireland uses its diplomatic, development and humanitarian tools, aligned with flexible funding models, to deliver results. It is this combined model that is being used to deliver Ireland’s response to those most affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Irish Aid humanitarian response has focused on those who remain in Ukraine or in neighbouring countries, such as Moldova and Poland. In addition to a €20 million Irish Aid humanitarian package which has been disbursed to organisations active on the ground in Ukraine or its immediate neighbours, prepositioned Irish Aid funds with key UN agencies, and the ICRC, meant that those organisations were able to respond on the ground in Ukraine immediately.
This funding complements the generous contributions made by so many citizens to Irish and other humanitarian organisations who are responding to the needs of those affected by the conflict, many of whom receive core funding from Irish Aid.
In addition, I have activated the Rapid Response Register, with experts from the Register deploying to UN partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
As an elected member of the UN Security Council, Ireland has called for Russia’s immediate withdrawal of troops from the entire territory of Ukraine, demanded that the Russian Federation uphold its obligations under international law and encouraged the international community to provide all possible support to the Ukrainian people. On 5 May 2022, An Taoiseach participated in a pledging conference that raised €6.15 billion in humanitarian and economic supports for Ukraine. Together the EU and its Member States have provided nearly €1 billion in humanitarian assistance.
Conscious of wider global humanitarian need, itself being affected by the invasion of Ukraine and its impact, for example, on world food prices, Irish Aid continues to respond generously to those most impacted by other crises, including Syria, Yemen and Somalia. Ireland hosted an Arria Formula meeting at the UNSC last month on Conflict and Hunger to draw international attention to the impact of the war in Ukraine on global food security and the need to continue to support other humanitarian crisis.
