Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

318 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he proposes to take at EU level and at national level to assist the 12 million people threatened with starvation in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20408/02]

The Government is actively responding to the growing food security crisis in the Horn of Africa region. Recent assessments by the United Nations' World Food Programme, WFP, and others have revealed widespread losses of maize and sorghum crops, the staple foods for most rural people in the region, due mainly to poor rainfall. As a consequence, over 12 million people are threatened with famine in the Horn of Africa. Coupled with the food security crisis already taking hold in the southern Africa region, the grim forecast is that more than 26 million African people will require food assistance over the next eight months.

Ireland Aid, the official aid programme of the Government, has delivered over €3.5 million in emergency humanitarian relief to the Horn of Africa region to date this year. In addition, on 22 October 2002, a special €1 million emergency food aid package for Ethiopia, the country worst affected in the region, was announced by the Minister of State with special responsibility for overseas development assistance, Deputy Tom Kitt. It is anticipated that this funding will be allocated in the coming weeks to key international agencies providing food assistance as well as Irish non-governmental organisations operating on the ground.

I would note that, in addition to emergency humanitarian assistance, Ireland Aid is also delivering long-term development support to the region with an emphasis on poverty reduction through the provision of basic needs and capacity building support. In 2002, it is estimated that such support for the region will amount to €55 million.

Ireland's financial support has been complemented by ongoing political action. On 17 July 2002, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, met with Commissioner Poul Nielson in Brussels for discussions on the food crisis in Africa. Officials at the Irish Embassy in Addis Ababa, and at Ireland Aid in Dublin, are working closely with partners in the European Union and the United Nations to develop strategies on how immediate food needs across the Horn of Africa may best be addressed at both the national and regional levels.

We will continue to follow the unfolding situation in the Horn of Africa closely. The Government stands prepared to deliver further assistance from the Ireland Aid programme over the coming months. In addition, we will work with our donor partners to ensure maximum co-ordination and coherence in the international response to this crisis.
Barr
Roinn