Sir, – Two months after a deadly and violent conflict engulfed Sudan, hundreds of thousands of people continue to flee war and seek refuge in neighbouring countries.
The fighting shows no signs of slowing down and the human toll grows every day. Those still in Sudan are seeing their livelihoods, health and social systems deteriorate in real time.
This increasingly dire situation comes at a time when a record 240 million people in 69 countries need urgent humanitarian assistance. Parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are now enduring their sixth consecutive failed rainy reason, which has led to soaring food prices and water scarcity, pushing millions of people into ever more extreme levels of food insecurity.
For Dóchas members who are working in and through local communities and organisations, the magnitude of the multiple crises and the chronic level of underfunding is having real and serious consequences. The gap between rapidly increasing humanitarian need and global funding is widening, forcing impossible choices as to who gets left behind.
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Decades of progress towards ending poverty and hunger are rapidly being reversed by a deadly mix of climate change and conflict.
The Irish Government must respond urgently. Political will is needed to ensure climate targets are met, conflict is prevented, food systems work for everyone, and those furthest behind are reached.
Ireland should leverage its role as co-facilitator of the UN SDG Summit to influence wealthy nations and partners to constructively prevent and respond to humanitarian crises, and the diverse and complex drivers of these crises.
Hunger and malnutrition are not inevitable. People capable of producing and earning enough food for themselves and their families are being starved – by conflict, climate change and inequality.
We appeal to the Irish Government to make real and tangible progress to reach our commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) on official development assistance (ODA) by 2030. We must make good on our commitment to spend ODA on those furthest behind in least developed countries and those worst affected by climate change and conflict. – Yours, etc,
JANE-ANN McKENNA, CEO, Dóchas,
CAOIMHE DeBARRA, CEO, Trócaire,
DAVID REGAN, CEO, Concern Worldwide,
SIOBHAN WALSH, CEO, Goal Global,
JIM CLARKIN, CEO, Oxfam Ireland,
FEARGAL O’CONNELL, CEO, Self Help Africa,
ROSAMOND BENNETT, CEO, Christian Aid Ireland,
GILLIAN BARNETT, CEO, World Vision Ireland,
PAUL O’BRIEN, CEO, Plan International Irl,
KAROL BALFE, CEO, Action Aid Ireland,
John Moffett, CEO, Misean Cara
DEIRDRE GARVEY, Secretary General, Irish Red Cross,
PETER POWER, Executive Director, UNICEF Ireland,
CIARA SMULLEN, Interim CEO, SightSavers Ireland,
MARY KEOGH, Interim CEO, CBM Ireland,
SEAN COPELAND, CEO, Tearfund Ireland,
DR CAROLINE MURPHY, CEO, Comhlámh,
RICHARD MOORE, CEO, Children in Crossfire,
TERI COSGRAVE, CEO, Operation Smile,
KILLIAN STOKES, CEO, Proudly Made in Africa,
FRANK GEARY, CEO, IDEA,
ALAN MOORE, CEO, ILCUF,
ANNE CLEARY, CEO, Aidlink,
OLIVE CUMMINS, CEO, SeeBeyondBorders Ireland,
JOHN PEAKCOCK, National Secretary, YMCA,
MIKE BURKE, CEO, VIVA,
WOJCIECH MROCZEK, Don Bosco Aid,
BRIAN IREDALE, CEO, Nurture Africa,
MARGARET MEAGHER, CEO, Aiding Resources, and
HANS ZOMER, CEO, Global Action Plan.