The Department of Foreign Affairs has a specific budget allocation as part of its overseas development assistance which enables speedy and effective provision of assistance to the people most affected in humanitarian emergencies. The allocation for 2000 is £7 million. Ireland works closely with other like-minded countries and humanitarian organisations to develop and implement good practice in this area. Humanitarian interventions must, in so far as is possible, be in line with the highest humanitarian principles, be co-ordinated, based on a proper assessment of needs and monitored to ensure relief reaches those most in need. It is essential that all those involved work together to save and protect lives and to make best use of the resources available.
The Government's main aim in emergency situations is to get the right sort of assistance to the victims as speedily and as effectively as possible. This is the main determinant in choosing the channel of assistance. Ireland Aid responds to emergencies on three levels. We respond through non-governmental organisations which are established in the affected country or region and therefore have the local knowledge, expertise and capacity to react speedily and effectively to emergencies. We respond through multilateral organisations, such as the UN agencies and the Red Cross family which have a presence in most countries and are most often in a position to move immediately to help local efforts. We also respond through the European Commission Humanitarian Office, which was specifically set up to allow a unified EU response to humanitarian emergencies. In 1999, ECHO's funding amounted to almost 810 million.
ECHO and, to a growing extent, the UN agencies also channel their funds through non-governmental organisations. The United Nations office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs has the role of co-ordinating the overall international response so as to avoid duplication and unnecessary competition among aid agencies which, unfortunately, still occurs all too frequently.
Ireland Aid has guidelines and procedures in place for the disbursement of emergency funding. These have been developed in line with international norms and in consultation with non-governmental organisations. In the case of rapid-onset emergencies, there is an urgency procedure in place which enables the Minister to approve funding to facilitate a quick, efficient and effective response to humanitarian emergencies through the organisations most qualified to react in the particular circumstances. This response is co-ordinated with other donors through the EU and the UN where policy and procedures have been developed and are subject to continuing review.