Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
2. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the contribution made by Ireland to address the humanitarian crises following the earthquake in Morocco and the floods in Libya; if our emergency response capabilities need to be upgraded in the face of growing climate disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41906/23]
View answerWill the Tánaiste set out Ireland's response to date to the humanitarian crises in Morocco and Libya? In light of the fact that we are going to face more disasters of that nature as a result of climate change, do we need to update our capacity to deal with such matters?
As everybody knows, on 8 September, Morocco experienced a major earthquake, which killed almost 3,000 people and injured 5,000 others. Two days later, Storm Daniel struck Libya, with flash floods affecting wide areas in the east of the country, including the city of Derna. It is estimated that over 5,000 people have died with thousands more missing and very significant numbers, running into several hundred thousands of people, displaced.
Ireland responded quickly by providing €2 million in humanitarian assistance for Morocco and €1 million for Libya. The funding is supporting work on the ground by the Moroccan and Libyan Red Crescent Societies. We have also provided assistance through pre-positioned funding with the International Federation of the Red Cross and the UN emergency response fund and through the World Health Organization fund for emergencies like these.
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, Ireland responds by allocating humanitarian funding to trusted UN, Red Cross Movement and Irish NGO partners that can work at speed. In the face of an increase in the frequency of humanitarian disasters, Ireland's humanitarian funding has increased in recent years, reaching a total of €297 million last year. We are also working to help countries in crisis to adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
In response to crises, at the request of our international partners, Ireland also provides emergency supplies and stocks to affected areas to help the relief effort. Emergency stocks are stored in strategically located depots and hubs to ensure that supplies can be dispatched immediately. We also regularly deploy highly skilled and experienced individuals from the rapid response corps to work as surge capacity with United Nations partners in humanitarian crises. I will speak separately about the loss and damage fund, of which Ireland is very supportive, because it deals with the climate change issues the Deputy has referred to.
On the totality of the allocation to these two crises in Morocco and Libya to date, the Minister of State has said it comprises €2 million, €1 million and other moneys. Will he detail the totality of our contribution to date? The more important point I will focus on is our preparedness for the growing number of climate-related disasters we are certain to face. I will ask about our capacity to respond effectively to these crises, either as a nation or as part of the European Union, and to do so speedily because, in both Morocco and Libya, it was many days before some areas were reached by an emergency response and by the skilled personnel needed to provide resources and rescue. Do we have the capacity in Europe to meet demands like this in a speedy and accurate way in the future?
The Deputy will be aware that we do not have capacity and personnel permanently available on the ground to do that. We work through our European colleagues in all situations. With regard to the overall funding, Ireland has contributed €12.5 million to the UN central emergency response fund so far this year. We give it to the fund. Ireland has directly contributed €12.5 million this year so that it can be ready for accidents and emergencies as and when they arise, rather than having a discussion on the day. The extra funding we announced was an immediate and additional humanitarian response to the emergency at hand. It is in addition to the money we had already provided. We also provide funding to the World Health Organization, which has emergency medical stocks available in several locations around the world. We do that each year so that we can be ready for these crises. This was an immediate top-up on the day of the crisis on top of the funding we provide annually.
My particular focus is now on our preparedness for the future. The Minister of State has said that, as a nation, we do not have capacity to respond in that way. Will he and the Tánaiste take the lead on initiating discussion within the European Council to ensure that we can, as a Union, respond effectively and quickly to future disasters which are, unfortunately, bound to happen with the advent of climate change? Does the Minister of State feel we have that capacity now or do we need to beef it up? Will he take such an initiative?
We work closely with our EU colleagues in all of these situations. The way it generally works is that some countries are better positioned to help individual countries. This may depend on their diplomatic and political relationship over many years. Some countries are very willing to take assistance from certain countries within the EU immediately while choosing not to take assistance from other countries. We always use the most appropriate country to deal with the country in question. That does happen. I again stress that our work on the loss and damage fund ahead of COP28 will be key in respect of the issue of climate change. Ireland is very supportive of that fund. We cannot continue to deal with these issues on an emergency basis only. We have to look at the big picture and assist those countries that suffer the most when these climate issues arise. It is often those countries that contribute least to the emissions that are contributing to the overall situation. That is why it is essential for us to have that loss and damage fund. We have to do this on an ongoing basis rather than moving from crisis to crisis. Those funds are just top-ups to our pre-committed funds.
