Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the Foreign Affairs Council, the need to provide additional humanitarian assistance to areas such as South Sudan and Yemen in which there is an imminent threat of famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12283/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I am extremely concerned about the worsening humanitarian crises in South Sudan and Yemen. Famine was declared in parts of South Sudan in recent weeks and the UN is now calling for urgent action to avoid famine in Yemen. Conflict is having a severe impact on the populations in both countries, leading to acute hunger and increased displacement. We use every opportunity we have internationally to focus on the unprecedented level of humanitarian need globally, including at the Foreign Affairs Council.

South Sudan, where 7.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, was last discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in December 2016. The Council issued a strong political statement calling on all parties to end the violence, and to allow unhindered humanitarian access to those in need.

The EU is providing very significant humanitarian assistance to South Sudan. Since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013, the Commission has provided over €420 million in humanitarian funding, including an emergency aid package of €82 million announced last month.

Ireland has provided over €31 million in humanitarian assistance to the South Sudan crisis since December 2013, including over €11 million in 2016.

The conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels this week. It is estimated that 70% of the Yemeni population of 27 million is now in need of assistance, with 2 million people on the brink of famine.

The EU Commission provided more than €70 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen during 2016, focused on emergency programmes targeting 4 million people with nutrition and food assistance. Ireland has provided almost €6 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen since the conflict began in early 2015. We provide support through our UN, Red Cross and NGO partners.

Together with our EU partners, we will continue to monitor the situation in South Sudan and Yemen closely. I expect that further humanitarian support to both crises will be provided by Ireland in the coming period.