Catherine Murphy
Question:73. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the current situation in Haiti was discussed at the last EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. [12788/24]
View answerWednesday, 20 March 2024
Questions (73)
Written answers
I remain deeply concerned by the political, social and humanitarian crisis in Haiti. That concern deepened in recent weeks, as the level of criminal violence and unrest reached critical levels.
The situation in Haiti was discussed at the most recent Foreign Affairs Council, which took place on 18 March. The concern of EU Member States was reflected in the EU’s Item 4 statement at the current session of the Human Rights Council, which reiterates the EU's serious concerns regarding the continued crisis in Haiti, highlighting the importance of political dialogue, and reaffirming EU support for Haiti’s stability, development and regional integration.
Haiti's multi-faceted crises can only be comprehensively addressed through a viable, inclusive and sustainable Haitian-led political transition. The UN Secretary General’s affirmation that the UN Mission in Haiti will continue to support Haiti on the path towards peaceful, credible, participatory and inclusive elections is welcome, as is the work of the Caribbean Community in facilitating progress. The rapid deployment of the UN Security Council-endorsed Multinational security support mission will assist stabilisation of the situation and secure the pathway to elections.
I am committed to supporting Haiti. My Department, through the Irish Aid programme, provided over €2.8m in humanitarian and civil society funding to Haiti in 2023. This came in addition to our contribution to pooled funds such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which allocated over $US26 million to Haiti in 2023. Ireland provided €14.5 million to the CERF last year. Haiti is the main recipient of EU humanitarian aid in Latin America and the Caribbean, with at least €470.5 million allocated since 1994, while EU development funding to Haiti for the period 2021-24 is €120 million.