Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the State's humanitarian response to the unfolding famine in east Africa and the measures being taken to help prevent its escalation with millions more persons at threat of starvation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25640/17]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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My question relates to the current humanitarian and political crisis in the Horn of Africa where famine threatens in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. What measures is the State taking diplomatically and in the provision of humanitarian assistance to deal with that?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government is strongly committed to responding to the unprecedented humanitarian needs in east Africa, in particular in the Horn of Africa. Conflict, drought, severe food insecurity and now famine are causing massive population displacements and suffering throughout the region. As a consequence, the humanitarian situation is continuing to deteriorate and 5 million people are classified as severely food insecure in South Sudan. Famine is affecting 100,000 people in parts of the country and a further 1 million people are now on the brink of famine. In Somalia, 3.2 million people are in crisis and the risk of famine remains extremely high. Over 10 million people in Ethiopia and Kenya are also now facing an acute hunger crisis. As such, the continued provision of timely humanitarian assistance to avert a catastrophe in the region is essential.

Through the Irish Aid programme, Ireland has provided €120 million in humanitarian assistance in the Horn region since 2012, including €29 million in 2016 and €17 million so far this year. Our assistance is supporting our UN and NGO partners in their responses with a focus on providing food assistance, treating malnutrition, providing shelter and protection for displaced people, and providing emergency services in water, sanitation and health care. Last month, we airlifted over 100 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Somalia while earlier this month a further 34 tonnes were airlifted to South Sudan for distribution to displaced families. We will continue to monitor this ongoing crisis closely and to provide additional life-saving humanitarian assistance to those most in need.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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I commend Irish Aid on the work it is doing and has consistently done to address the humanitarian crisis in the region. It is of vital importance. Is the Minister aware also of the unfolding political crisis and the impact it is having on aid agencies? Aid agencies are now being targeted by some of the political actors in the region which is making it very difficult to carry out humanitarian work.