Ireland contributes over €150m to humanitarian crises

Marking World Humanitarian Day, the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD Ireland has announced that Ireland has already provided over €150 million for humanitarian crises across the world in 2024. This includes the response to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and humanitarian assistance to Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan.

The Tánaiste said:

“The importance of Ireland’s humanitarian aid to millions of people around the world cannot be underestimated. Over 360 million people across the globe require humanitarian assistance to survive, Ireland remains committed to reaching those further behind through our work with UN and NGO partners. Ireland has steadily grown its budget for humanitarian and development aid in recent years signifying our recognition of the importance of helping those most vulnerable in our world.

“Ireland’s funding is focused on the most severe humanitarian crises and emergencies. Last year, Ireland responded to devastating earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, the earthquake in Morocco and floods in Libya. We also continue to support vulnerable populations experiencing acute hunger – including in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen. In 2024, Ireland has continued to respond to the most urgent crises including floods in Kenya and the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.”

So far in 2024, over 170 humanitarian workers have been killed in crises around the world. In Gaza alone the number of humanitarian aid workers killed since October 7th 2023 has exceeded 200.

Speaking ahead of World Humanitarian Day, marked every year on 19 August, the Tánaiste paid tribute to humanitarian workers across the world and stressed the need for their safety:

“In recent years we have seen an alarming rise in the number of humanitarian workers killed or attacked as they try to provide lifesaving assistance. Ireland continues to call for strict adherence to International Humanitarian Law in all conflicts and reminds all parties to conflict that humanitarian workers and civilians must not be targets.

“On World Humanitarian Day we also remember those humanitarian workers killed while attempting to help others. This year we remember particularly those who have lost their lives in the conflict in Gaza.”

Humanitarian need driven by conflict, climate and economic crises continues to grow with more people than ever in need of assistance. In Sudan, the world’s largest ever displacement crisis is currently unfolding with over 8 million people displaced since the outbreak of conflict there in April 2023. At an international conference in April 2024, Ireland pledged over €12 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan and neighbouring countries dealing with the effects of this conflict and mass displacement. Ireland’s humanitarian assistance also focuses on forgotten crises such as in Yemen where Ireland has pledged €6m of assistance in 2024. UNOCHA estimates that 18.2m people are in need in Yemen in 2024.

ENDS

Press Office

19 August 2024

Notes to editors:

• Irish Aid, the government’s programme for international development, is an integral part of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

• Ireland invested €297.8 million in humanitarian aid in 2022. This compares with €228 million in 2021, €192 million in 2020 and €181 million in 2019. The 2023 total spend is expected to be similar to 2022 once calculations are finalised.

• World Humanitarian Day is marked on 19 August every year to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 suicide bomb attack on the UN headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 UN staff. Some 150 more people were also injured on that day.

• 2023 marked the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers. 2024 is on track to be even worse. So far this year, 170 humanitarian workers have been killed in crises around the world according to provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database research team at Humanitarian Outcomes. Last year’s annual death toll reached over 260 according to the same data. In Gaza alone the number of humanitarian aid workers killed since October 7th 2023 has exceeded 200.

• Ireland is recognised for its quality humanitarian funding. In line with international best practice we provide funding that is flexible, predictable and multi-year. This type of funding supports our partners to plan and programme more effectively and to respond rapidly to urgent needs as they evolve. Importantly, Ireland’s quality funding also provides a strong basis for respectful partnerships with communities, local authorities and local and national NGOs, actors who are front and centre of the humanitarian response.

• Ireland’s humanitarian spend also includes core contributions to organisations such as UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency), UNOCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross).

• Ireland’s humanitarian assistance is provided by way of bilateral and multilateral aid and is channelled through a range of trusted partners: UN agencies, the Red Cross family and Non-Governmental Organisations.