Conor Lenihan announces humanitarian aid package totalling €4.5 million
Conor Lenihan announces humanitarian aid package totalling
€4.5 million
Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, today announced details of a humanitarian aid package of €4.5 million, including assistance for Darfur, southern Africa and Afghanistan.
In April, Ireland pledged €15 million for the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Sudan over the period 2005-2007. As part of that commitment, Minister of State Lenihan today allocated €1 million to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to support its role in coordinating the international humanitarian response to the ongoing crisis in Darfur.
Speaking in New York, Minister of State Lenihan said:
“When I visited Darfur in April, I saw for myself the scale of the humanitarian crisis and the immense challenge of coordination facing OCHA. Effective response is dependent on coordination. Ireland's supports the key role of OCHA and the UN in this regard.
As part of the overall package, €1 million has been allocated to the World Food Programme for their efforts to tackle serious food shortages in Malawi and Zimbabwe.
“The food security situation in southern Africa is a cause of real concern. According to a recent report the production of maize in Malawi, the country's most important staple crop, is the lowest in adecade. Up to one-third of the population is undernourished. Zimbabwe is also facing major food shortages exacerbated by poor policies. This funding will help the World Food Programme respond to a growing emergency – the full extent of which has not yet hit the headlines”, Minister Lenihan said.
The Minister also announced funding for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and financial support for the Parliamentary and Provincial elections which are scheduled to take place in September.
“Ireland is a strong supporter of the recovery process in Afghanistan. We delivered €12 million in response to a pledge made in Tokyo in 2002 and we are now delivering on our promise of a further €5m made at the Berlin Conference in 2004.”
Announcing the overall package, Minister of State Lenihan said:
“It is essential that we better understand the context in which these and other emergencies occur, so that we can respond better to them and can work to prevent them in the future. In that light, I am making available funding for conflict research and peace-building efforts by International Alert and the International Crisis Group.”
Details of the funding package are attached.
Humanitarian Assistance Package
June 2005
Country Organisation Description Amount
Southern Africa Emergency World Food Programme Feeding programmes in Southern Africa (Malawi and Zimbabwe) €1,000,000
Southern Africa Emergency Concern Universal Emergency response project, Malawi €300,000
Sudan UN-OCHA Darfur response coordination €1,000,000
Sudan UNICEF Education programme in South Sudan €250,000
Sudan World Food Programme Feeding programme in South Sudan €250,000
Afghanistan UNDP Parliamentary election support programme €800,000
Afghanistan Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) The ARTF has demonstrated its value in Afghanistan's reconstruction programme and the Afghan Government is committed to continue using this mechanism as it simplifies management and oversight of donor resources. €500,000
Afghanistan BAAG Civil society capacity-building and research €50,000
Best Practice International Alert International Alert is an independent, international non-governmental organisation that works to help build lasting peace in countries and communities affected or threatened by violent conflict. €200,000
Best Practice The Crisis Group Support for field-based conflict research €150,000
TOTAL: € 4,500,000
