Times might be hard in Ireland, but there are places in the world where they are much harder - Somalia for one.
And with that in mind Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, announced €3 million in "life-saving assistance to Somalia" during a recent visit to the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The funding will provide food, shelter and other vital assistance to thousands of Somalis affected by conflict and hunger, said a release from Gilmore's department.
Gilmore's visit coincided with the one-year anniversary of the UN's declaration of famine in Somalia. The Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) is the first Irish minister to travel to Somalia in more than two decades.
"Somalia is one of the poorest and most insecure environments in the world. Our ongoing assistance is saving lives every day. The funding I announced will help our United Nations and NGO partners to scale up their vital assistance to the millions of vulnerable Somalis whose lives are in jeopardy as a result of war and starvation. We are committed to supporting them as they strive to build a better future for their families and their country," said Gilmore.
"While progress has been made over the past year since famine was declared, the gains are now at grave risk of being reversed by yet another poor rainy season and a late harvest. Those who will be hardest hit over the coming months are the 1.4 million Somalis who have been displaced by drought and conflict. They are now balancing on a knife-edge, dependent on a good harvest to keep food prices low and to remain alive."
The €3 million is in addition to almost €30 million in emergency and long-term development funding which Irish Aid has provided to UN and aid agencies operating in Somalia over the past five years
Gilmore said that the timing of the visit - in advance of next year's Irish presidency of the EU - offered an excellent opportunity to galvanize international action on Somalia, which is one of the most protracted and complex humanitarian crises anywhere in the globe.
"Ireland will play a leading role in raising humanitarian issues over the course of our EU Presidency next year. We have a long and distinguished history of humanitarian engagement, not least in Somalia. I was proud to travel to see how Ireland has assisted families in need of food, water and shelter, principally through Irish NGOs such as Concern and Trócaire, who have worked here for over twenty years with the support of the Irish public and the government.
"Many will remember the historic visit here in 1992 by President Mary Robinson, who appealed to the international community to respond urgently to the tragedy that was unfolding at that time. Sadly, decades of conflict and famine mean that millions of Somalis continue to face untold hardship, hunger and suffering, with many relying on international assistance just to stay alive," he said.
