Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which commitments entered into in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti have been honoured to date; the number of countries that have already contributed to the extent indicated, those that have not and the extent of reconstruction recovery recorded to date in Haiti; the extent to which the international community has managed to provide basic food and shelter requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36545/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Ireland responded quickly to the devastation and suffering caused by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. Through Irish Aid, the Government has provided just over €2 million to date in humanitarian assistancethrough experienced NGO partners. In the immediate aftermath of the Hurricane, the Department organised two airlifts of humanitarian supplies to provide relief to 2,500 families in the worst affected areas.

The UN issued a Flash Appeal a number of days after the Hurricane seeking $119 million for the provision of life-saving assistance to 750,000 people. The appeal is currently 48 percent funded. This funding has contributed to the priority sectors of food security, nutrition, emergency agriculture, health, water, sanitation and education. The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund also responded swiftly by releasing $5 million to address urgent needs. Ireland last year provided a total of €11.75 million to the Fund.

The immediacy of the response and initial needs assessment were hampered due to difficultly in accessing the most affected areas. Six weeks on, lifesaving humanitarian aid has reached these hard to access areas, ensuring the most vulnerable and affected people receive the necessary support. For example, the World Food Programme (WFP) has reached 520,000 people with food assistance. UNICEF and its partners have created access to safe water for some 216,000 individuals, through the establishment of water treatment units and repairs to the existing water system. As the response progresses, the numbers of those reached with assistance continues to increase.

While humanitarian assistance is ensuring immediate needs are met, efforts have also included provisions to sustainably restore the homes and livelihoods of affected communities. For example, WFP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation are jointly implementing seeds protection activities through their partners in time for the upcoming planting season. The European Commission has an extensive development programme across Haiti focused on strengthening resilience. Similarly, Irish NGOs operating in Haiti in receipt of Irish Aid’s emergency funding have been able to respond to the needs of the affected communities in which they work, while also aiming to protect the gains of longer term development work.

Ireland has been a strong supporter of Haiti since the earthquake in 2010, and has provided a total of €25.9 million in humanitarian and development funding. The Department continues to monitor the situation in Haiti very closely.