I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.
Ireland’s longstanding relationship with Africa is maturing as the continent undergoes dramatic change. Yet we remain conscious of the serious obstacles that must be overcome if Africa is to enjoy a stable and prosperous future. Ireland attaches high importance to the development of relations with the countries of Africa, to supporting economic and social development and to responding to the needs of people affected by war and natural disasters. Through our humanitarian and development engagements, Ireland is active in addressing the causes and consequences of conflict and hunger in the continent, and in ensuring that aid workers deployed to deliver assistance and capacity building support in African countries are free to do so without undue interference.
Africa is the main geographic focus for Ireland’s development cooperation programme, with 80 per cent of the aid budget devoted to the objective of ending extreme poverty and hunger, especially in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Our missions in Africa monitor developments, report to the Government, and manage our political and economic relations and humanitarian and development programmes. Ireland also has excellent relations with its NGO partners which are a direct and reliable source of information regarding the level of humanitarian risk African countries face at any particular time. My Department regularly reviews these various sources of information and ensures that key messages are given voice at an international level where the opportunity arises.
In the Horn of Africa, a year on from the devastating famine which resulted in the deaths of many thousands of people, the humanitarian situation remains extremely fragile. The region was affected by one of the worst droughts in decades, where an estimated 12.4 million people were reported to be in urgent need of food. While a huge relief effort, followed by good rains last autumn, saved hundreds of thousands of lives, the crisis forced many more from their homes, devastated their livelihoods and left them vulnerable to future hunger shocks. At present the total number of food insecure people in the Horn of Africa is approximately 8 million people, with the majority of those in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia.
Ireland will chair the Council Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Assistance during our EU Presidency in the first half of 2013. We will continue to engage actively in pushing for a strongly coordinated approach to the humanitarian requirements in the Horn.
I recognise the skilled and often courageous work undertaken by Ireland’s aid workers. They work in environments of food insecurity, poverty, protracted conflict, environmental degradation, weak government capacity, severe infrastructural weaknesses and poor governance. During my visit to Somalia last July I witnessed at first hand the excellent work being carried out on the ground. Supporting democratic change across Africa is helping to improve the conditions in which Irish aid workers operate. Our national approach in the continent is guided by the Africa Strategy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which was launched in September 2011. It sets out a framework for our policies in the political, development and economic areas in order to ensure that our engagement is as comprehensive, coherent and effective as possible. A fundamental principle of our approach is an emphasis on the promotion of political progress including the resolution of conflict, the strengthening of democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Africa faces many challenges. Nevertheless, the continent is showing real progress towards sustainable change. In order to maintain this positive momentum and avoid losing the positive gains from development investment over the years, Ireland will continue to work in partnership with African countries to respond quickly to humanitarian challenges when they occur.
