merrion street

 Minister of State for Overseas Development and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, TD, today announced a contribution of €2 million in response to humanitarian crises in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger.

Announcing the funding, Minister Brophy said:

 “The Sahel continues to face complex, overlapping humanitarian crises. All of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger are affected by armed conflict. They are also on the front lines of another crisis: climate change. Together, these shocks have caused huge levels of displacement and, more recently, alarming levels of food insecurity.

 “The support I am announcing today is another demonstration of Ireland’s concrete commitment to addressing the impact of climate change, reducing humanitarian need, and ending extreme poverty.

 “The funding, which will be shared evenly among the four countries, will be provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a key partner for Ireland in responding to the humanitarian needs provoked by armed conflict worldwide.

 “Ireland’s support to the ICRC in West Africa will enable it to provide life-saving assistance and protection to people caught up in conflict. The ICRC is also a key advocate for respect for international humanitarian law, working with authorities and communities to advance the protection of civilians and to secure space for humanitarian action.”

ENDS

Press Office

16 June 2021

Notes to Editors:

• Millions of people continue to suffer the consequences of conflict in West Africa’s Sahel region, particularly in northern and eastern Burkina Faso, central and northern Mali, and Diffa and Tillabery in Niger. Cross-border raids and other attacks by armed groups have been increasing, as have operations against them by domestic and multinational military and security forces. Communal violence has also intensified. The repercussions of hostilities on the availability of food, particularly among displaced people, are exacerbated by the devastating impact of droughts and floods – worsened by climate change – on agriculture, the main source of subsistence for many. COVID-19 and its broader socio-economic impact further threaten the lives and livelihoods of communities.

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an independent, neutral organisation ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. It directs and coordinates the international activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence worldwide. The work of the ICRC is mandated by international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols.

• The ICRC’s appeal for these four countries in 2021 is approximately EUR 133.5m. This funding will support activities across a wide variety of sectors, including: assistance in the fields of food consumption, food production, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health, and shelter; assistance and protection activities for people in detention; restoring family links; promotion of international humanitarian law; and support to the National Red Cross Red Crescent societies.