Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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261. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international humanitarian effort can focus on Syria, the Middle East in general and African countries with particular reference to the need to protect the women and children, whether the threat is from war, genocide, starvation, drought or famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40785/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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. Humanitarian assistance is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. In 2015, Ireland’s humanitarian funding amounted to more than €142 million globally. This level of funding is being maintained in 2016 and includes Ireland’s contribution to the European Commission’s humanitarian action outside the EU, which has an annual budget of approximately €1 billion.

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, and places key emphasis on gender equality and protection, including from gender-based violence.

Ireland’s Humanitarian Assistance Policy recognises the particular needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls in emergencies, noting that attention to gender equality must be an essential part of every humanitarian operation. Ireland consistently prioritises the protection of women and girls in our humanitarian programming and advocacy work, including in our commitments at this year’s World Humanitarian Summit, and through strategic partnerships with organisations such as the International Rescue Committee, which enable us to support dedicated gender-based violence prevention and response efforts in emergencies. At the World Humanitarian Summit, which was convened in May by the UN Secretary General, President Higgins co-chaired a roundtable discussion on Women and Girls and delivered Ireland’s national commitments to the protection and empowerment of women and girls in emergency settings.

Ireland is strongly committed to responding to the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people and those affected by ongoing conflict in the Middle East and in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2012, we have provided more than €67 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. We have provided over €100 million for victims of crises across the Horn of Africa since 2012, including €30 million for the South Sudan crisis alone. In addition, Ireland continues to provide support to people affected by major crisis situations in Iraq, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic.

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