Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the UN and EU can co-ordinate their efforts in respect of the refugee crisis arising from various conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3518/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The European Union is fully committed to effective multilateralism and this commitment, with the UN at its core, is a central element of the approach to external action as set out in the EU’s new Global Strategy.

The EU works closely with the UN system on the issues and challenges which face the world today, including on the migration and refugee crisis.

The UN system, notably the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organisation for Migration, which is now more closely integrated with the UN system than in the past, clearly have leading roles in addressing the crisis. In 2016 approximately one third of the contributions to UNHCR came from the EU. The EU recognises and is supportive of the work of these agencies in helping vulnerable people on the move and in assisting the EU and its Member States in meeting the needs of these people. For example the EU will contribute a total of €62 million in humanitarian funding over the 2016-2017 period to UNHCR, to support its work with the Greek government in providing protection and assistance to refugees and migrants in mainland Greece.

In broader terms, the EU and its Member States are the world’s leading providers of development and humanitarian assistance and this assistance, including through the UN system, is crucial in addressing the root causes of forced displacement. Ireland plays a strong role in policy terms, through our aid programme and through our bilateral and multilateral development assistance. The EU is also a major contributor to UN peacekeeping, and EU military capabilities play an essential role in permitting UN peace operations to engage more effectively around the world. This type of collaboration is clearly fundamental to addressing the conflicts that are at the origin of major flows of refugees and displaced people.

In addition to being a key EU partner the UN is an indispensable global forum for tackling these global challenges. Ireland, through our role as co-facilitator, played a central role in last year’s UN discussions on how to address this and similar crises in the future, in a long-term and sustainable manner. The outcome of those discussions was adopted at last September’s UN Summit on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants. The EU is now working with the rest of the international community to implement the outcome of the Summit.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the top ten flash points globally with the most serious abuses of human life, starvation, war and famine continue to be identified; if enhanced UN or global aid operations are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3519/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The world is facing an unprecedented level of humanitarian need. In 2017, the UN estimates that 92.8 million people are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, over 65 million people are displaced from their homes across the world, and $22.2 billion is needed to fund the global humanitarian response.

Ireland’s humanitarian response has been consistent to some of the world’s most severe crises, some rarely mentioned in the media, such as the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, as well as the crises in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. The core objective is to save and protect lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity. Our assistance is focused on where needs are greatest, providing support to the most vulnerable and hard to reach populations, and we place particular emphasis on gender equality and protection.

In 2016, Ireland provided over €150 million in humanitarian assistance, reaching people affected by conflict and natural disasters. This amount includes Ireland’s contribution to the European Commission’s humanitarian action outside the EU, which has an annual budget of approximately €1 billion.

Ireland works with a range of partners to deliver our humanitarian assistance including NGOs, the UN and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Ireland’s UN partners lead the coordination of international appeals for humanitarian assistance, including through the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. Ireland is the eighth largest donor to this Fund, which has provided $4.6 billion in life-saving assistance to people affected by crises since 2005. Ireland is also a strong supporter of the UN pooled funds located in countries of particularly severe crisis in Africa and the Middle East.

The international community came together at the World Humanitarian Summit in May last year to reflect on how donors can deliver on the then Secretary General’s ‘Agenda for Humanity’ and the Sustainable Development Goals. Over 3,140 commitments were made by Governments and implementing partners, to strengthen humanitarian action, create sustainable solutions for those affected by crises, and ensure adequate humanitarian financing. I delivered Ireland’s national statement at the Summit making 35 specific commitments to achieve more sustainable and effective humanitarian action. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure that the global humanitarian response is increasingly coordinated and effective.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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178. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the international community has responded to the various natural disasters over the past five years such as earthquakes and tsunami; if all commitments entered into initially have been honoured in respect of locations such as Haiti; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3520/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Ireland provided over €150 million in humanitarian assistance in 2016, focused on where needs are greatest, in countries affected by conflict or devastation caused by natural disasters. In 2017, the UN estimates that 92.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with over 65 million people displaced by conflict worldwide.

Ireland’s humanitarian response is channeled through UN, Red Cross or NGO partners who are best placed to respond. Ireland is the eighth largest donor to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. It enables UN agencies to swiftly allocate funds to sudden crises, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, in order to kick start emergency responses. Ireland also supports the European Commission’s relief efforts through our EU budget allocation.

Ireland has responded swiftly and effectively in recent years to devastating natural disasters. Ireland was one of the first countries to respond to Typhoon Haiyan, which hit central Philippines in November 2013. More than US$865 million was contributed by the international community, including €40 million from the European Commission. Ireland provided €7.1 million.

More recently, Ireland responded to the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, allocating €1.65 million to NGO partners and distributing 100 tonnes of emergency supplies. In total, the international community contributed over $533.8 million, exceeding the UN appeal of $421 million. This included €22.6 million from the European Commission.

Ireland provided a total of €25.9 million in humanitarian and development funding for Haiti between 2010 and 2016. This includes over €2 million in response to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and nearly €14 million in assistance following the Haiti earthquake in 2010. The European Commission has provided a total of €273 million since 2010 to assist victims of the earthquake.

Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve the scale and effectiveness of the international community’s response to major disasters and humanitarian crises. Lessons learnt from previous crises such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake have informed the improvement of systems under the leadership of the UN, to ensure the most effective, efficient and rapid delivery of aid possible.