Minister Brophy announces additional €500,000 funding for Red Cross in Central Sahel

Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora, Colm Brophy T.D., today announced additional funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross for its humanitarian programmes in the Central Sahel.

Making this announcement at a ministerial roundtable on the crisis in the Central Sahel convened by Denmark, Germany the EU and the UN, Minister Brophy said:

“One million children in the Central Sahel are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition. In response, I am announcing an extra €500,000 for the Red Cross, bringing our funding to the region to €5m this year.

"Ireland directs our development cooperation towards reaching the furthest behind first, especially in fragile and conflict-affected states. Our scaled-up humanitarian assistance and political engagement is an expression of the solidarity by the people of Ireland with the people of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Ireland stands ready to play its role in promoting peace and development in the Central Sahel.”

Minister Brophy, added:

“From our own experience of conflict on our island, Ireland knows that working together to tackle the causes of conflict and insecurity can make peace and stability a reality.”

ENDS

PRESS OFFICE

20 OCTOBER 2020

Notes for Editors

The Central Sahel is Comprised of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger;
Across the region, 7.4 million people are acutely food insecure – three times more than last year and a massive increase compared to the average of the last five years. Close to 1 million children are affected by life-threatening severe acute malnutrition. In Burkina Faso, an estimated 11,000 persons are already facing famine levels of food insecurity;
Ireland has already provided €4.5m to humanitarian and development assistance in the Central Sahel in 2020. The additional funding will take that up to €5m;
Ireland’s policy for international development, A Better World, outlines Ireland’s vision of a more equal, peaceful and sustainable world. It charts a clear way forward to achieve this vision, shaping and protecting our stability, our prosperity, our shared interests and our common future. It commits Ireland to reducing humanitarian need by anticipating and responding to crises so as to protect the most vulnerable and those at risk;
Ireland’s Strategy for Africa, Global Ireland - Ireland's Strategy for Africa to 2025, provides a framework for strengthened political partnerships with African countries and institutions, including scaled up engagement in West Africa and the Sahel;