Minister Lenihan announces €31m in Emergency Humanitarian Aid for Africa
Minister Lenihan announces €31m in Emergency Humanitarian Aid for Africa
Ireland to play an enhanced role in distribution of UN humanitarian funds
Conor Lenihan TD, Minister of State for Irish Aid, today announced funding of €31 million in response to the United Nations’ appeal for Humanitarian Aid in 2007. The pledge comes in response to the United Nations’ annual Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for Humanitarian Aid. The total amount requested by the UN globally is €3 billion.
For the first time, nearly a third of the Irish Aid funding to the Appeal will go to Pooled Funds. The Pooled Fund model was created as part of the ongoing UN reform process. In trials in Congo (DRC) and Sudan, Pooled Funds have been successful in improving the effectiveness of aid delivery. Ireland will now become a member of the Advisory Committee of the Pooled Funds in both Sudan and Congo, providing advice on the allocation of funds. Announcing the package, Minister Lenihan said:
“Ireland is providing its contribution early in the year and in a flexible manner to allow those in the field to act more effectively and plan ahead. Our relief will be targeted at humanitarian crisis situations, particularly those in Africa. It will support those who are delivering food, water, shelter and medical assistance.
The Consolidated Appeals Process is a vital tool in delivering a coordinated response to ongoing humanitarian emergencies. It also draws attention to so-called forgotten or neglected emergencies which have not benefited from high profile, international attention.”
In conclusion, Minister Lenihan stated “I have asked my officials to begin discussions with Irish Aid’s main NGO partners about their Humanitarian Programmes for 2007”.
Note to the Editors
The Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) is a mechanism whereby UN agencies working on humanitarian response come together within the UN Country Team and with NGOs to prepare Consolidated Appeals for the most urgent humanitarian situations across the world. CAP appeals enable operational agencies to provide the necessary support to vulnerable populations in these countries in a coordinated and well-planned manner.
Pooled Funds are operated by the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator who, with the advice of the advisory committee, allocates the funding to those projects most in need. Ireland will provide €7 million to the Pooled Fund for Congo (DRC) and €3 million to the Pooled Fund for Sudan.
The details of this package show the range and depth of Irish humanitarian and recovery interventions across Africa. Irish funds will target inter-linking areas such as food insecurity, conflict and HIV/AIDS.
The funding package includes support for the humanitarian needs of the populations in ten African countries.
COUNTRY AMOUNT (€)
Burundi €2,000,000
West Africa Region €2,500,000
DRC (Congo) €7,000,000
Zimbabwe €2,400,000
Chad €2,000,000
Somalia €3,100,000
Cote d’Ivoire €1,500,000
Great Lakes Region €2,500,000
Sudan €6,000,000
Central African Republic €2,000,000
Total €31,000,000
ENDS +++
21 January 2006
Press Office
