Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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70. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which Ireland is supporting efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in north east Nigeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria. Despite recent progress made by Nigerian and regional armed forces, violence by Boko Haram remains a serious threat to the peace and security of Nigeria and to the wider Lake Chad region. This conflict has resulted in the displacement of millions of people and has caused a humanitarian crisis affecting some 14 million people.

Since 2015, the Government has provided over €3.1 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by this crisis. Last year, we provided €1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and €1 million to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation for their response in the region. We also provided €430,000 to our NGO partners, Oxfam Ireland, MSF, Plan International Ireland and the International Rescue Committee. In addition, Irish Aid deployed six specialists last year to work with UN agencies in the region under the Rapid Response initiative.

We are also working closely with our partners in the EU, which has pledged up to €50 million to the Multinational Joint Taskforce, which supports 8,700 troops from Nigeria and neighbouring countries in promoting regional security. Since 2014, the European Commission has provided €96.8 million for humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, and the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin remains a priority for the year ahead.

Our Embassy in Abuja has also been playing a leading role on the ground, in cooperation with the United Nations.

Our Ambassador has made a number of visits to North-Eastern Nigeria, meeting with representatives of the UN and NGOs and with the Governor of Borno State, to discuss priorities for 2017. We are continuing to monitor developments closely, and to work with the Nigerian Government, with regional authorities and with other key partners to address the humanitarian crisis through diplomatic engagement and humanitarian funding.