Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
142. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will commit to contributing to the UN pooled fund that will support local and international organisations, such as an organisation (details supplied) that is working in Haiti. [16417/24]
View answerI am very concerned at the extreme levels of violence in Haiti and the lack of access for essential supplies of food and medicine.
Through the Irish Aid programme, Ireland provided €2.8 million to support humanitarian and development programmes in Haiti in 2023. Over €2 million of this was provided through Irish NGOs, Concern, GOAL and Plan International Ireland, with further funding provided to UNICEF for its Humanitarian Action for Children appeal.
In addition, Ireland contributes to pooled funds such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the START Fund. CERF allocated over $US26 million to Haiti in 2023, and has allocated $US12 million this month. The START Fund allocated almost €750,000 to international NGOs in Haiti in 2023, and €350,000 so far in 2024. Ireland provided €14.5 million to CERF in 2023 and €1.4 million to the START Fund in 2023.
Ireland is a strong supporter of the UN country-based humanitarian funds globally and we have been following closely the recent establishment of a Haiti window under a new Regional Humanitarian Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean. We will continue to engage with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on this new fund and are reviewing the possibility of entering a partnership with the fund.
We, and our EU partners, recognise that a Haitian-led political solution is essential if the ongoing crisis in Haiti is to be comprehensively addressed. We are strong supporters of the efforts to install a transitional government in Haiti, and welcome recent progress in this regard. We also view as essential the swift deployment of a multinational security support mission to the country, as requested by Haiti.
