Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Government has been following and responding to the increasingly difficult situation in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region for many months and allocated more than €9 million in emergency assistance. On a per capita basis, Ireland's contribution is one of the most significant responses to the crisis. Funding from Ireland has been used directly by the United Nations, the Red Cross and NGOs such as Concern and Trócaire to provide vital food, supplies, shelter, basic health care and clean water for thousands of people in some of the worst affected areas of the region. Thanks to this assistance, we believe the lives of hundreds of people are being saved every day across Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. In addition to the financial help, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through Irish Aid, has carried out two airlifts of humanitarian supplies from its prepositioned stockpiles in Dubai. Looking ahead, the Government is in ongoing contact with our partners in the region. We are actively examining options for the provision of further support and will do what we can to be of assistance. The problems of the region will not be adequately solved without political settlements and an end to the violence taking place on a regular basis and which, together with famine, is substantially contributing to the appalling plight of the tens of thousands of refugees dependent on aid in the region.

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