Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 November 2023
65. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the multi-lateral overseas aid programme continues to interact directly with communities most seriously affected by conditions such as war, hunger and drought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50494/23]
View answerConflict, climate change and the continuing impact of the pandemic have combined to increase the need for humanitarian assistance in crises across the globe. The international response increased to a record €26.85 billion in 2022. This support meant that over 216 million people across 69 countries received food, medicine and other life-saving assistance.The commitments and contributions of the international community are guided by the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview, a summary of the most pressing crises across the globe. It is updated regularly to ensure that the humanitarian response is focused on the most severe crises and reaches the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, girls and people living with disabilities. Ireland is playing our part in the global response, ranking among the top 20 humanitarian donors. In 2022 Ireland provided over €280 million in humanitarian assistance. Our assistance was focused on countries affected by war, famine and drought, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, the Sahel and Venezuela. Ireland also responds quickly to natural disasters, such as the the earthquakes in Turkiye/Syria and in Morocco and Afghanistan.More than one third of Ireland's Official Development Assistance is provided to multilateral partners, notably the European Union, the World Bank and UN Agencies. These partnerships enable Ireland to reach conflict affected communities across the globe. The EU is the largest humanitarian donor and the World Bank is increasingly focused on the most fragile countries affected by conflict. UN agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the UN Refugee Agency and UNICEF coordinate and deliver life saving assistance to millions of people suffering from drought and hunger. Significant elements of Ireland’s ODA are delivered through other Government Departments. For example the the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides support to the UN World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. These UN agencies also provide vital emergency assistance to vulnerable communities across the globe.
