Government commits €3 million in funding for humanitarian emergencies in Chad, Central African Republic and Yemen
The Government is to provide €3.2 million in urgent humanitarian assistance to communities affected by conflict and drought in the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad and Yemen, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, and Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock, TD, have announced.
Emphasising Ireland’s long-standing commitment to people affected by “forgotten emergencies” Minister Flanagan said:
“Forgotten crises often receive less international attention and funding than is required to meet even the most basic human needs – access to clean water, food and shelter. Away from the media spotlight, the vast majority of those affected are vulnerable women and children, and they need our continued help.
“In the Central African Republic alone, 2.5 million people are in immediate need of humanitarian assistance with crisis levels of food insecurity affecting almost half of the population.
“Similarly the crises in Chad and Yemen are not well-known situations, but the needs are very real, and Ireland is helping to ensure that these people are not forgotten.
“Ireland has been internationally recognised for our focus on humanitarian emergencies, most recently in a very positive review carried out by the OECD. We provided over €68 million in humanitarian support to crises in 2014 and will continue this strong commitment into the New Year.”
Minister of State Sherlock said:
“Ireland’s funding to our UN and NGO partners on the ground in these below-the-radar emergencies will help to provide food aid, improved water, adequate sanitation, healthcare, and support to agriculture, in some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world.
“I also pay tribute to the two members of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps have been deployed to the Central African capital, Bangui, this year, to support the vital work of UN partners UNICEF and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
“The funding announced today will provide life-saving assistance to some of those most in need.”
The funding is being distributed as follows:
- €1 million for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) response in Chad €500,000 for the UN Emergency Response Fund in Yemen, which provides rapid, flexible funding to NGOs and UN agencies which have the best capacity to deliver services on the ground
- €600,000 for Plan Ireland to provide education for refugee children displaced from the Central African Republic into Cameroon
- €500,000 for Oxfam Ireland’s activities in livelihoods and supporting women’s saving groups in the Central African Republic
- €500,000 for Concern’s work on agriculture and food security, livelihoods, and water and sanitation in the Central African Republic
- €100,000 for Tearfund Ireland’s activities on agriculture and food security in the Central African Republic ENDS
