Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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32. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the UN's world food program has had to reduce food rations for over 500,000 residents of Kenya's Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps by 50%, that cutting rations is a last resort, that they have taken this unprecedented step to stretch out the existing limited food available and that they have pleaded for international assistance and donations; if he shares the mounting concerns of aid organisations; and if he will provide the WFP with any additional supports or emergency funding. [44968/14]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Conflict and food insecurity in the Horn of Africa are seriously affecting countries and communities across the region. I saw for myself the impact of the crisis in South Sudan when I accompanied President Higgins on a visit to a refugee camp in Gambella, in Ethiopia, earlier this month.

Kenya continues to be seriously affected by displacement and food insecurity. It is currently hosting some 450,000 refugees in Dadaab in the north- eastern region of the country, many of whom have fled conflict and recurring drought in Somalia. In the northwest of Kenya, the Kakuma camp is hosting 100,000 people. Since the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan in mid-December last year, Kakuma has received over 40,000 new arrivals.

So far this year, international donors have contributed over US$68 million to support food assistance for refugees in Kenya. Nevertheless, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has indicated that, as a result of insufficient funding, it has made the difficult decision to reduce food rations for these refugees. We understand that the WFP will distribute half-rations until the end of January 2015. The WFP has made it clear that special fortified food for children and pregnant women will continue to be provided.

Ireland is a strong and consistent supporter of the work of the World Food Programme. We have provided almost €13 million in funding alone so far this year. This includes the annual contribution from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, of just under €10 million, together with support of €3 million through the Irish Aid programme.

Ireland is also one of the largest donors to the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF). We have contributed over €100 million since 2006. This pre-positioned funding allows UN agencies to draw down quick and responsive support in severe and deteriorating crises. WFP has received over 30% of funding allocated from the CERF in 2014. Through the CERF mechanism, the WFP has been allocated over US$6 million for food assistance to refugees in Kenya.

I am very conscious of the strains on the humanitarian system globally. 2014 has seen a sharp and continued spike in humanitarian emergencies around the world, with an unprecedented number of crises, in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and Central Africa. I am proud that Ireland has responded strongly and effectively to these growing needs through the Irish Aid programme, while also assisting ‘forgotten’ humanitarian needs in regions like the Sahel. In the coming weeks, I will consider further humanitarian funding, including to the CERF, to meet pressing humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere.