Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2017
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if humanitarian aid continues to be made available in the regions throughout the globe currently most affected by conflict; if adequate steps have been taken to ensure the availability of aid and the establishment of safe havens for civilians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9000/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of effective humanitarian assistance is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. Ireland’s humanitarian assistance is targeted where needs are greatest and we ensure a focus on crises and conflicts that are sometimes ignored in the media. In 2016, Ireland provided over €165 million in humanitarian funding, to provide assistance to people affected by crisis and conflict around the world including in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan and north east Nigeria. Ireland will maintain these funding levels for 2017.
Ireland also contributes to the European Commission’s humanitarian action outside the EU, which has an annual budget of approximately €1 billion. Ireland’s UN partners lead the coordination of international appeals for humanitarian assistance, including through the Central Emergency Response Fund. Ireland is the eighth largest donor to this Fund, which has provided $3.7 billion in life-saving assistance since 2006.
In May last year, the UN Secretary General convened the World Humanitarian Summit in an effort to address the current scale of global humanitarian crisis. At the Summit, I delivered Ireland’s National Statement, making a number of specific commitments to sustainable and effective humanitarian action, including through our support to conflict affected states and our approach to peacekeeping. Ireland has also signed up to the Grand Bargain principles, accepting a series of commitments to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of humanitarian funding.
Providing safe havens within conflict zones is extremely difficult, especially where civilian protection is not prioritised. Safe havens require UN mandates and robustly equipped peacekeeping personnel. Political will is lacking in many conflicts today, including from some on the UN Security Council. However, in other places, the UN is active and there are twice as many UN peacekeepers deployed today as 15 years ago. Ireland continues to play its part, with more than 570 personnel in UN-mandated missions overseas.
