Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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In 2017, over 95 million people were affected by disasters linked to natural hazards worldwide; over 9,000 people directly lost their lives; and economic losses from major disaster events were estimated at almost US$335 billion. Comprehensive figures for 2018 are not yet available, but the year saw another significant number of people around the world impacted by natural disasters, notably the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia.

Climate change, together with poverty and poor environmental management, means that an increasing number of countries, in particular developing countries, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters.

The international community is providing record levels of funding, with a coordinated response that is reaching tens of millions of people affected by natural disasters. A rapid, effective response is vital, in order to address the immediate needs of affected populations, as well as ensure a return to sustainable livelihoods, including alleviating the risk of starvation. Ireland's development programme also helps put in place sustainable food systems, so that the conditions which contribue to crises and starvation can be avoided.

Ireland’s humanitarian programme leads our response to global natural disasters, working with partners in the UN, EU, the International Red Cross Movement (ICRC) and Irish and international NGOS.

Ireland has developed a deep partnership with the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA. OCHA coordinates and leads coherent and effective international responses to humanitarian crises. Amongst other funds, OCHA manages the Central Emergency Response Fund, which responds to sudden onset disasters and to under-funded crises. Ireland is a strong supporter of both mechanisms and the current chair of the OCHA donor support group, which works with the Office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator. In 2018 OCHA has assisted millions of people affected by natural disasters around the world, including the response to Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, drought in Afghanistan, and floods in Nigeria. During 2018, my Department hosted a Casement Lecture by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, on the theme of innovation in humanitarian financing, a contribution to the raising of awareness on new approaches to crisis response.

Ireland also works closely with the ICRC and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, comprising 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent member societies, and reaches 160 million people annually through 17 million volunteers, members and staff. Ireland provided €1.85 million to the Federation in 2018 to support its coordination of relief operations to assist victims of natural disasters, including those affected by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia.

Ireland's NGO partners provide rapid assistance following natural disasters. For example, in response to the eruption of the Fuego Volcano in Guatemala on 3 June 2018, Ireland provided €75,000 to Plan International to assist with shelter for those affected.

As well as responding quickly and effectively in the event of a disaster, it is also important to work with countries to build up their resilience to disasters. Ireland provides core support to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction worth €0.5m to help them build capacity in Ireland’s key partner countries to prepare for and manage the impact of disasters.