Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding that Ireland has provided to tackle the crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. [57626/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The fight against hunger and malnutrition is a key priority of Ireland's international development progamme. The numbers affected by hunger are rising globally, and the food security situation in the Horn of Africa is particularly acute.  I saw the devastating impact for myself when I visited the region recently.

In response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in the Horn of Africa, the Government is providing over €100 million in assistance to countries across the region this year.  This includes an additional €30 million in immediate emergency funding announced in Budget 2023, focused on the most vulnerable communities at real and imminent risk of sliding into famine.

Of this additional funding, a significant proportion is being allocated for Somalia and communities worst affected in Ethiopia, through trusted UN and Irish NGO partners.

Since 2021 Ireland has directed €13.2 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia, €36.1 million to Ethiopia, and €2 million to Eritrea in humanitarian assistance to people most in need.

Ireland also contributes to the humanitarian response in the region through our contributions to multilateral funds such as the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which responds rapidly to crises as they emerge.  Ireland has provided €11.5 million to the CERF so far this year.  The CERF has allocated over $306 million in emergency assistance to countries in the Horn since 2021, including €76 million in Somalia, €76.5 million in Ethiopia, and €4 million in Eritrea.