Ireland Gives More Than €140m In Humanitarian Support - Irish Aid Annual Report

Ireland has given more than €140 million in Emergency Humanitarian Support and delivered almost €648 million in Official Development Assistance, according to new figures.

The figures were revealed in the Irish Aid Annual Report 2015, announced by the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh, at an event in Dublin Castle.

The Report confirms the Government provided €647.51 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) during 2015. €142 million of Ireland's total ODA contribution was spent on emergency humanitarian support in conflict and natural disaster situations.

The top five recipient countries of humanitarian support in 2015 were Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Central Africa Republic.

The Report also recalls the key role played by Ireland in helping to broker agreement on the new UN Sustainable Development Goals as adopted by world leaders at a summit held in New York in September 2015.

Speaking at the launch, Minister McHugh said: "2015 was a year that was once more marked by appalling levels of human suffering as a result of conflict and natural disasters. But it was also a year, that all Irish citizens can be proud of. In a year of celebration of the 60th anniversary of Ireland's admission to the UN, that we, together with Kenya, were elected by the President of the UN General Assembly to facilitate the brokering of a global agreement to replace the Millennium Development Goals, is testament to our internationalism and our role in the world."

Commenting on the work of Irish Aid in response to humanitarian disasters in 2015, Minister Mc Hugh said: "Irish Aid allocated €142 million which was used to provide shelter, food and essential services to thousands of communities across the world."

(MH/CD)