Cash boost for aid agencies
The Government is to give more than €26m to the United Nations and aid agencies to ease humanitarian crises in Africa, it emerged today.
The funding will support the UN humanitarian assistance programmes, as well as assistance to Red Cross and NGO programmes across the continent.
Conor Lenihan, minister of state for development cooperation, said Ireland was committed to increasing its overall aid package and providing it as early as possible and as flexibly as possible.
“This greatly helps those out in the field actually delivering food, water, shelter and medical assistance to do their job and plan ahead,” he said.
Some €19m will go directly to the UN Consolidated Appeals for the most urgent humanitarian situations in Africa.
And €7.5m will go to NGOs and the Red Cross.
“I am proud that we are playing a leading role in providing early and generous funding to these vital appeals,” Mr Lenihan said.
“This further underscores Ireland’s commitment to principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship meaning that we continue to focus our efforts equitably on all humanitarian crises, including those that are under-reported or forgotten.”
The junior minister also paid tribute to the work of Irish NGOs and their fight against famine, violence and the HIV/Aids epidemic.
