More Than €11m Funding Announced For UN Humanitarian Affairs

Funding of €2.9 million has been announced for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney, and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr. Ciarán Cannon.

The funding was announced alongside confirmation of a further €8.5 million to relieve humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.

The announcement comes in advance of a visit to Ireland by Sir Mark Lowcock, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. In his capacity as head of UN OCHA, Sir Mark Lowcock coordinates humanitarian relief operations across the globe, ensuring that relief is delivered when and where it is needed most. While in Dublin, Under-Secretary-General Lowcock will deliver a keynote address on the global humanitarian response system and the need, in particular, for innovation in how it is financed.

Speaking ahead of his meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General, the Tánaiste said: "The United Nations is a cornerstone of Ireland's global engagement. I am pleased to announce almost €11.5 million in Irish Aid support to the UN's humanitarian relief work. This work helps alleviate the vulnerability of those most exposed to the effects of conflict, natural disaster and famine, in particular those most at risk due to the enduring crises in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. However, across the world, humanitarian need continues to outstrip the resources available. The Government is strongly committed to working with UN Under-Secretary-General Lowcock and the wider UN system to help put in place new solutions, including looking at innovative financing, and, most importantly, to find long-lasting solutions for peace."

(MH)