Written answers
Thursday, 28 September 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Disaster Response
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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61. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he anticipates the need for a seriously coordinated and structured response to recent natural and man-made disasters across the globe including recent events in Libya, Morocco and the invasion of Ukraine, if such a response can be delivered through existing structures or otherwise as required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41805/23]
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The increasing frequency of natural disasters an the unprecedented level of humanitarian crisis globally represent a major challenge for the provision of international assistance.
Ireland provided over €295 million in humanitarian assistance in 2022 through trusted partners, including the United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is mandated to lead and coordinate humanitarian assistance in crises across the globe.
In the early days of a disaster, OCHA has the capacity to assess who is most need and what assistance is required. It coordinates local and international organisations on the ground to ensure the most effective and efficient response. By the end of 2022, OCHA was coordinating over 660 partners operating across Ukraine alone. More recently, OCHA is on the ground in Libya coordinating the emergency response to the catastrophic floods.
In the face of natural and man-made disasters, funding is needed immediately to support a coordinated response. Ireland provided rapid funding in response to the disasters in Ukraine, Morocco and Libya. In addition, Ireland provides core funding to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), key UN agencies and the International Red Cross so that they are able to respond rapidly whenever a crisis occurs. We also pre-position funding with our Irish NGO partners so that they are able to respond at speed.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also engages closely with the humanitarian directorate of the Commission in Brussels, which coordinates EU humanitarian aid operations, disaster risk management and civil protection response. The European Commission and the EU Member States have recently agreed a set of disaster resilience goals to steer our work in disaster prevention and preparedness.
Ireland has also been supportive of efforts by the EU, UN and International Red Cross to invest in prevention, preparedness and early action. We are continuing to engage with all our partners to ensure the most effective, life-saving humanitarian response to disasters and crises.
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