Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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359. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which access to humanitarian aid remains available to those affected by war, persecution or starvation throughout the known trouble spots globally; if he sees requirements for improvements to ensure victims' safety and that aid goes unimpeded to those for whom it was intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19766/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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366. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of locations globally to which Irish Aid has been in a position to deliver humanitarian assistance in the course of the past five years; the extent to which difficulties have been experienced in specific locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19773/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 366 together.

The international community is currently challenged by the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises globally, as a result of war and conflict, drought and famine and the devastation caused by natural disasters. Over 65 million people are now displaced from their homes across the world, most of them living in situations of conflict. Ireland's total humanitarian assistance amounted to some €140 million in 2015 and is likely to increase this year.

Ireland’s humanitarian response focuses on the most severe crises, often protracted over many years, including those which do not receive attention in the media. The core objective of our assistance is to save and protect lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity, before, during and in the aftermath of such crises. Our assistance is focused on where needs are greatest, providing support to the most vulnerable and hard to reach populations.

Access to communities to deliver humanitarian assistance in situations of conflict is often very difficult. Irish Aid works through a range of partners, including NGOs, UN organisations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They have the experience and capacity to deliver assistance and are best placed to respond in any given situation.

Over the last five years, we have provided humanitarian assistance to crises in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and across the Sahel. We have also responded to a number of sudden onset emergencies, including the earthquake in Nepal last year and Typhoon Hayian in the Philippines in 2013.

In this period, Ireland’s largest humanitarian response has been to the Syria crisis, with over €46 million provided to our partners’ operations both within Syria and in the region since 2012. We have also provided over €80 million for victims of crises across the Horn of Africa since 2013, including over €26 million for the South Sudan crisis alone. In addition, Ireland has provided support in major crises situations in Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Over the last five years, we have supported programmes which are saving lives and reaching people fleeing from conflict, violence, drought, floods and famine, meeting their basic needs, enhancing their protection, improving their access to healthcare and clean water, providing food assistance and tackling malnutrition, and supporting them to find livelihood opportunities in the communities and countries where they are currently hosted.

We continue to monitor each major crisis situation to ensure that our assistance is reaching those most in need.