Horn of Africa famine response
Deputy Devlin described the worsening famine risk in the Horn of Africa and urged a stronger Irish response. The Tánaiste said the Government was aware of the danger, referred to wider international discussions, and promised a follow-up from the Minister of State on the aid plan.
As we gather here today, every 48 seconds someone dies of starvation in the horn of Africa. On Tuesday last Deputies were invited to a very stark briefing organised by Dóchas. We were addressed by the Dóchas CEO, Ms Jane-Ann McKenna, and four of the aid agencies operating in the horn of Africa, that is, Goal, Trócaire, Concern and Oxfam and were told that 181 million people in the horn of Africa face starvation due to food shortages, climate change and political unrest in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The number of people facing extreme hunger has doubled in the last year. The UN estimates that 750,000 people across five countries are facing immediate starvation. I know that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Irish Aid officials are doing their best in very difficult circumstances but we need to redouble our efforts. The alarm for famine has been sounded in the horn of Africa. I ask the Tánaiste to provide an update on what the Irish Government is doing to assist people in the horn of Africa.
Comment on this
We are very aware of the risk of famine that now arises from the food security issues that have been thrown up by Putin's invasion of Ukraine. I attended talks in Geneva earlier this week where this was very much on the agenda for trade ministers.
On our humanitarian response, I am not sure exactly what is planned. I know that we have something planned through our overseas development aid budget but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy, to come back to the Deputy on that with a bit more detail.