Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he can encourage the international community to take a greater interest in the humanitarian effort in Yemen, the horn of Africa and Venezuela; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9698/19]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The number and complexity of humanitarian crises globally has increased in recent years, with the UN estimating that over 134 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. Conflict is the most significant driver of this increased need.

Ireland works closely with partners around the world to address these needs. We are committed to the UN system, and have a strong relationship with the UN's Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs, which leads and coordinates humanitarian response efforts in the most severe crises around the world. In 2018 Ireland assumed the Chair of OCHA's Donor Support Group, and in this role we discuss with OCHA and other major donors the response to these humanitarian crises.

Humanitarian needs have never been greater, with the UN estimating total global requirements at almost $22 billion. Ireland is a committed humanitarian donor, and in 2017 provided over €180 million in humanitarian assistance.

The humanitarian crises in Yemen, the Horn of Africa and Venezuela are deeply concerning, and demand a strong response from the international community.

In Yemen, over 24 million people, around 80 per cent of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Yesterday I attended an international pledging conference in Geneva, where I committed Ireland to providing €5 million to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund in 2019. This will bring our total contributions to Yemen to over €22.5 million since 2012. In my statement, I called for increased efforts to address the underlying causes of the crisis, in particular finding a solution to the conflict which drives so much suffering.

Conflict and displacement have caused significant humanitarian need in the Horn of Africa. Across the Greater Horn of Africa region (which includes Sudan and South Sudan), over twenty million people are food insecure, and there are over three million refugees. In 2018 Ireland provided over €30 million in humanitarian funding to this region.

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Venezuela, which has led to the displacement of over three million people, is of great concern. In 2018, Ireland provided €142,000 to support the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Gender-based Violence Emergency Response in Cucuta, Colombia - a major border crossing for Venezuelans coming into Colombia. Given the deterioration in the situation, we are examining options to increase our humanitarian support in 2019.