Ireland Announces Contribution of €3 million to the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund
Press release
13 March 2018The Government of Ireland, through Irish Aid, its official programme of overseas development assistance, today announced the disbursement of €3 million in 2018 to the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF). The EHF, which is overseen by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and managed by UN OCHA, is a fund supported by a number of international donors which provides life-saving humanitarian support to crisis-affected communities across Ethiopia. Ireland's funding will allow the UN, working alongside the Government of Ethiopia and international partners, including NGOs, to deliver vital nutrition, water and sanitation, education, agriculture and livestock support services to Ethiopians affected and displaced by crisis.
The contribution of €3 million reflects Irish Aid's ongoing commitment to respond to the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia. The contribution will focus in particular to the acute needs reflected in the Humanitarian and Disaster Resilience Planning (HDRP) document launched today by the Government of Ethiopia and the UN. Irish Aid has contributed over 12 million to the EHF since 2015, as part of an overall cooperation programme with Ethiopia totalling €130 million between 2014 – 2018.
Her Excellency Sonja Hyland, Ambassador of Ireland to Ethiopia stated, "Ireland plays an important role in the global humanitarian response and we are committed to assisting the poorest and most vulnerable in emergency situations, particularly women and girls. We have had a consistent partnership with the Government and people of Ethiopia for almost twenty five years to support their development priorities and humanitarian needs. The EHF ensures flexible, timely and effective humanitarian support is delivered to those most in need. We are proud to contribute to the fund which, in 2017, contributed approx 15% of the total nutrition, water and sanitation, livelihoods and education needs to communities in crisis in Ethiopia. We are committed to continuing our long-standing partnership with Ethiopia and with the UN Country Team to support those most in need'.
Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said "We are sincerely grateful to Ireland for this timely contribution to the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund. Experience has shown us that early interventions not only contribute to saving lives and reducing suffering, but also save costs over the duration of a crisis."
Mr. Paul Handley, Head of OCHA Ethiopia, said "We appreciate the continued confidence that Ireland and other donors have in the EHF, a mechanism that allows us to quickly channel resources to humanitarian partners working where needs are most acute, to deliver prioritised response".