Tánaiste Coveney and Minister Cannon announce funding for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and support for humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D., and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr. Ciarán Cannon, T.D., today announced Irish funding of €2.9 million for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). They also announced a further €8.5 million to relieve humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
The announcement comes in advance of a visit to Ireland by Sir Mark Lowcock, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. In his capacity as head of UN OCHA, Sir Mark Lowcock coordinates humanitarian relief operations across the globe, ensuring that relief is delivered when and where it is needed most. While in Dublin, Under-Secretary-General Lowcock will deliver a keynote address on the global humanitarian response system and the need, in particular, for innovation in how it is financed. As well as engagements with the Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, and Minister of State, Ciarán Cannon, the Under-Secretary-General will meet with representatives from the NGO sector, academia and the private sector.
Speaking ahead of his meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General, the Tánaiste said:
‘The United Nations is a cornerstone of Ireland’s global engagement. I am pleased to announce almost €11.5 million in Irish Aid support to the UN’s humanitarian relief work. This work helps alleviate the vulnerability of those most exposed to the effects of conflict, natural disaster and famine, in particular those most at risk due to the enduring crises in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. However, across the world, humanitarian need continues to outstrip the resources available. The Government is strongly committed to working with UN Under-Secretary-General Lowcock and the wider UN system to help put in place new solutions, including looking at innovative financing, and, most importantly, to find long-lasting solutions for peace.”
Minister of State Cannon went on to say:
‘I am delighted Sir Mark Lowcock has chosen Ireland to deliver a keynote address on the global humanitarian response system and the need, in particular, for innovation in humanitarian financing. His presence in Dublin is an opportunity to demonstrate Ireland’s support for the important work of the UN emergency relief system and for the need to look to new ways to meet the needs of those most vulnerable and at risk.
From June, Ireland will lead the international donor group which supports the work of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This will allow Ireland to work with OCHA on the quality of humanitarian responses to the many crises across the globe. A particular focus for us will be to identify opportunities for innovation across the system, particularly innovative financing for crisis response – the ultimate aim being to reduce the suffering of those millions of families hungry, displaced or living in fear.’