Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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334. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland and the EU can assist with the worsening humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria, especially for children, in view of donor commitments not being fulfilled. [36076/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am seriously concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis in north-eastern Nigeria, following seven years of conflict and violence by Boko Haram. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 14 million people in the region are now in need of humanitarian assistance. This includes up to 1.7 million internally displaced people in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe States, of which over half are believed to be children. OCHA has indicated that just 38% of the consolidated humanitarian funding requested from donors in 2016 has been received.

Earlier this month, our Ambassador to Nigeria visited Borno State to assess the security and humanitarian situation. He met in Maiduguri with representatives from various UN agencies and NGOs operating in the region. The Ambassador visited a number of camps for displaced people, including in the towns of Bama and Gwoza. Following the visit, on behalf of the EU, the Ambassador briefed the United Nations Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas. Our Embassy in Abuja continues to consult widely with the Nigerian Government, at senior political and official levels, on issues relating to the humanitarian emergency.

Ireland and our EU partners are providing significant assistance in response to the humanitarian crisis and continue to support the Nigerian Government in ensuring a secure environment for its citizens. The EU has pledged up to €50 million in support of the Multinational Joint Taskforce, which supports 8,700 troops from Nigeria and neighbouring countries in promoting regional security. The European Commission has also provided $52.4 million in humanitarian funding for the North East.

In 2016, Ireland has provided €3 million in direct response to the crisis in the region. This includes €325,000 for Irish Aid's NGO partners, €1 million for the work of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and €1 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Under Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative, six rapid responders were deployed this year to work with our UN partners’ humanitarian response operations in the country. We also airlifted 110 tonnes of emergency relief supplies into north-eastern Nigeria and to Niger to help Nigerian families displaced by conflict to meet their basic shelter and other needs.

We are continuing to monitor the situation in the region closely and to examine how we can contribute further to the response to the humanitarian crisis.