Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aid being provided to assist with the famine appeal in Yemen; and the best option for a person who wishes to donate to the cause. [49178/18]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I remain extremely concerned by the appalling humanitarian situation in Yemen, where over 22 million people require some form of assistance.

Ireland has provided almost €16.5 million in direct humanitarian assistance to Yemen since 2012. This includes over €4 million in 2018 principally channelled through the UN’s Yemen Humanitarian Fund - Ireland is one of the top ten donors to the Fund, which provides essential humanitarian services to millions of people in need.

In addition, Ireland is also a significant contributor to multilateral funds that allocate funding to the Yemen Crisis, notably the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Ireland has been one of the strongest supporters of CERF since its inception in 2006. So far in 2018, the CERF has allocated $50 million to the humanitarian response in Yemen.

Ireland also contributes support to Yemen via the EU. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2015, the EU has allocated over €438 million to support humanitarian assistance.

Like so many humanitarian crises around the world, the tragedy unfolding in Yemen has its roots in conflict. Ireland, directly and through the EU and the UN, continues to call for a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Yemen, and calls on all parties to facilitate safe and secure access for humanitarian actors.

Should the public wish to assist those in need in Yemen, there are very capable aid agencies with presence in Ireland who would welcome contributions.