Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2022
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if precise action is being undertaken through Irelands membership of the United Nations in response to various trouble spots throughout the globe with the view to offering aid, medical assistance or other relief to such trouble spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49414/22]
View answerAs an election member of the UN Security Council since January 2021, Ireland has been a vocal and consistent advocate for urgent attention and action on global humanitarian crises. We lead by example, through our highly respected programme of humanitarian assistance. At the Security Council, Ireland has been to the fore in calling for principled responses to humanitarian crises across the globe and respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Ireland is consistently ranked in the top 20 humanitarian donors in terms of total humanitarian support GNI. Our humanitarian funding has grown steadily in recent years, reaching €192 million in 2020. This accounts for over 20% of total ODA. The final figures for 2021 and 2022 will exceed that amount.
Ireland responds to crises across the globe, guided by humanitarian principles and informed by the needs on the ground. While we respond to large-scale humanitarian crises such as Ukraine and Syria, less visible crises such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remain front and centre to our response. At least 90% of our country specific funding supports the most severe humanitarian crises. We have a strong focus on reaching those most in need, including women, girls and people living with disabilities.
Ireland channels its funding through a range of partnerships with the UN system, the Red Cross Family, civil society organisations, as well as through the European Union. These partners have a strong track-record of providing humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, to the most vulnerable communities.
In Budget 2023, the Government announced an additional €30 million in humanitarian aid to respond to the devastating drought and food security crisis in countries in the Horn of Africa for the rest of this year. This is in addition to €77 million provided to the response over the last 19 months.
As part of Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative, emergency relief supplies/humanitarian stocks are pre-positioned in the UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) network of hubs around the world. This is a network of strategically located depots or hubs that procures, stores, and transports emergency relief supplies on behalf of the humanitarian community. In 2022, Ireland has worked with our partners to successfully deliver humanitarian stocks to Malawi, DRC and Somalia. Ireland also currently has 11 expert rapid responders in placements with UN agencies across the globe.
