Ireland to provide €1m in humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan
Press release
17 August 2021The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., and the Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Colm Brophy T.D., today announced €1m in humanitarian funding to support the people of Afghanistan.
This funding will be provided to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide urgent support to people in Afghanistan, as well as to those who have fled into neighbouring countries.
Minister Coveney said:
“I have approved €1 million to the UN High Commission for Refugees for the people of Afghanistan. The situation in the country is incredibly worrying. Even before the events of the last few weeks there were already almost three million Afghans displaced from their homes by insecurity. That figure is now rising.
“Ireland will continue to engage, including at the UN Security Council, to support peace in Afghanistan and to protect and promote the human rights of all Afghans, especially for women and girls. Ireland has also called for full and safe humanitarian access to allow life-saving support to reach all Afghans, including to respond to the urgent needs of families forced to flee their homes.”
Minister Brophy said:
The UN estimates that nearly half of Afghanistan’s population are currently in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The situation is likely to worsen over the coming days and weeks as a result of the insecurity in the country. This funding will provide shelter and basic day-to-day needs for people in Afghanistan, as well as for Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries.
“Through Irish Aid, the Government has already provided €1m in humanitarian support to people in Afghanistan this year. Today’s announcement of a further €1m is in response to the unprecedented challenges facing Afghanistan.”
ENDS
Press Office
17 August 2021
Notes for Editors
- The UNHCR has issued a global appeal for $62.8m to respond to the current crisis in Afghanistan.
- Ireland’s contribution to the UNHCR appeal will support emergency response programmes in Afghanistan, as well as supporting Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
- The €1m announced today for UNHCR is on top of €1m already provided to support humanitarian relief in Afghanistan in 2021.
- In addition, Ireland contributes to global funds and core funding to key agencies that allocate funding to Afghanistan.
- Ireland also responds to needs through the EU which is a leading global donor for Afghanistan and has provided a total of over €1 billion in funding towards humanitarian assistance since 1994. In 2021, the EU has allocated €57 million in humanitarian support, prioritising relief assistance to the most vulnerable including victims of war, forced displacement and natural hazards.