Ireland reiterates continuing commitment to Horn of Africa relief effort

The Minister of State for Trade and Development Jan O’Sullivan TD has reiterated the Government’s commitment to aiding the people of Somalia and the Horn of Africa, following the United Nations’ declaration of a famine in the region.

The Government is providing €5.6 million in relief, which is the largest contribution to a single emergency from the Government in 2011. The Government has also fielded 11 members of its highly-skilled Rapid Response Corps to the region to directly assist in humanitarian operations.

“The scenes we are witnessing from Somalia and the rest of the Horn of Africa are harrowing,” Minister O’Sullivan said.

“There are literally millions of people at risk of starvation in some of the most hostile conditions imaginable. More than 78,000 Somalis have fled the country in the last two months, and 61,000 in June alone. This is putting an enormous strain on neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya which have opened their borders to the influx of the displaced and starving.”

Malnutrition rates in Somalia are the highest in the world, with more than 300,000 malnourished children in the south of the country. However, humanitarian agencies have been hampered in their attempts to provide relief by the effects of Somalia’s long-running civil war with a ban on their presence by rebel movement Al Shabaab only lifted in the past few days.

The Government, through Irish Aid, is supporting Concern to provide food rations for 10,000 people and treat 1,800 malnourished children in some of the worst affected areas of Somalia.

Support is also being provided to the UN World Food Programme to dramatically increase the distribution of highly-nutritious foodstuffs to young children and pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups.  Irish Aid is also assisting the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide shelter, healthcare, water and sanitation to Somali refugees fleeing to Ethiopia and Kenya. 

“The Government’s priority is to save lives and we are in ongoing contact with our partners in the region to assess how best to target Irish assistance,” said Minister O’Sullivan.

“We are particularly concerned about the situation of people within Somalia, who are at risk of starvation and are actively examining options for further support.”

Minister of State O’Sullivan highlighted the situation in Horn of Africa with her EU counterparts at a meeting of Development Ministers in Poland late last week, while Irish Aid officials attended an emergency meeting in Brussels on Monday to work on a joint EU approach to the crisis.

July 20, 2011

Notes to the editor

• Irish Aid is the Government’s programme for overseas assistance. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Irish Aid has provided €3.1 million to Concern, Trócaire, Goal and World Vision for emergency food, water, sanitation and healthcare in the Horn of Africa since the beginning of 2011. In addition, Irish Aid has provided €2.5 million to the United Nations for distribution to humanitarian agencies operating in the area.
• 11 members of Irish Aid’s Rapid Response Corps (RRC) are now working in the region. The RRC is a register of highly-skilled individuals who are willing to be deployed at short notice to assist in an emergency relief effort.
•  In addition to emergency funding for humanitarian crises, Ireland provides support for long-term development work which is designed to equip communities to withstand climatic and other shocks. In Ethiopia, Ireland supports the Productive Safety Nets Programme, which offers cash or food in return for environmental works which help communities conserve water and improve agricultural productivity. This programme reaches over seven million people annually and ensures that they are properly nourished, while their environment is protected.
• Ireland has also contributed €4 million to the United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) so far in 2011. The CERF was established in 2006 following the Asian Tsunami to provide immediately-accessible funds to the UN for use in a crisis such as the Horn of Africa. Funds are now being drawn down by a range of UN agencies for drought-related activities.

For further information or to request an interview with Minister O’Sullivan, please contact Fionnuala Quinlan, Press Officer, Irish Aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 087-9099975.