Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, T.D., today pledged an additional €2.75 million of Irish Aid support for the people of Ethiopia, who are experiencing a number of complex humanitarian crises.
Announcing the funding, Minister Brophy said:
“Ethiopia is experiencing multiple humanitarian crises and, potentially, famine. In the spirit of Ireland’s longstanding solidarity with the people of Ethiopia, I have allocated €2.75 million in additional Irish Aid support. This will help alleviate the hunger and insecurity of millions of people across the country, including in the Tigray region.”
Minister Brophy added:
“This Irish Aid funding will assist humanitarian organisations to provide life-saving assistance. It is vital that immediate, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access is facilitated, so that aid can be provided quickly to those who need it most. I also want to underline Ireland’s gratitude for the efforts and courage of humanitarian workers who are operating in dangerous circumstances – including and particular those working for Irish NGOs such as Concern Worldwide, GOAL and Trócaire in Ethiopia. I am pleased that today’s announcement increases the Irish Aid support for their work there.”
This new funding is additional to the allocation of €3 million to the Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund for 2021, €750k to the World Health Organisation to support Ethiopia’s fight against COVID-19 and €400k to provide services for survivors of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence. The additional funding will support interventions to improve the health and nutritional status of affected people, as well as provide protection services for vulnerable populations. Reaching people in urgent need of humanitarian aid remains a challenge, and Ireland is working with partners on the ground to advocate for full and unimpeded access to affected areas.
ENDS
Press Office
07 July 2021
Notes for Editors
- Established in 2006, the Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund (EHF) responds to conflict-related crises and disasters triggered by natural hazards, such as droughts, floods and disease outbreaks. Since its inception in 2006, the EHF has allocated approximately €562 million to more than 1,117 projects through 63 partners, including United Nations agencies and NGOs.
- The 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview for 2021 estimates that 23.5 million people will need urgent humanitarian assistance across the country. The widespread socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 are expected to persist. While ongoing insecurity, both in and beyond the Tigray region, continue to severely undermine the availability of and access to food and other basic goods and services, a desert locust upsurge is also likely to persist.
- On 10 June, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification issued a report, warning that more than 350,000 people in Tigray are facing famine-like conditions. The report stated that the food crisis results from the cascading effects of conflict and added that the severity of the food insecurity situation will increase through September.
- Ireland’s largest bilateral development cooperation programme is in Ethiopia.
