Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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213. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which Ireland encourages a greater more rapid response to emerging global emergencies arising from starvation, crop failure, war, ethnic cleansing arising from deliberations at the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48879/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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As an elected member of the UN Security Council since January 2021, Ireland has been a vocal and consistent advocate for urgent attention and action on global humanitarian crises.  We work closely with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, member states and a range of humanitarian actors, to shine a light on emerging humanitarian crises.

We have encouraged all parties to uphold International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and respect humanitarian principles. This is vital if the global humanitarian response is to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance and protection to those who need it most.

On Ethiopia, we have called on all parties to allow unhindered access to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the most vulnerable communities.  On Syria, Ireland, together with Norway, led negotiations to extend the UN cross border humanitarian operation into the north-west of the country. On Afghanistan, Ireland has highlighted concerns about the humanitarian situation at the UN Security Council, and in particular the vulnerable situation for women, girls, and minorities.

Ireland has also taken a lead role on conflict and hunger at the Council. Together with the World Food Programme and the Food and Agricultural Organisation, we have brought the bi-annual report on hunger hotspots to the attention of the Council for discussion and action. In September, Ireland called a Council meeting to discuss the alarming food insecurity in Yemen, South Sudan, Northern Ethiopia and North-East Nigeria.

Ireland leads by example, through the provision of quality humanitarian funding that enables our partners to respond rapidly to the needs on the ground. Our funding is provided based on needs and responds to both large humanitarian crises such as Ukraine and Syria and food insecurity in Horn of  Africa, as well as the less visible crises such as Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The drivers of these humanitarian crises are many and complex, with conflict the number one driver, and climate, Covid and economic shocks combining to amplify the needs.

Ireland is consistently ranked in the top 20 humanitarian donors in terms of total humanitarian support.  Our humanitarian funding has grown steadily in recent years, reaching €192 million in 2020. This accounts for over 20% of total ODA. The final figures for 2021 and 2022 will exceed that amount.