Humanitarian agency Trócaire has asked the government to increase foreign aid in the upcoming budget.
These figures show that the number of people experiencing severe hunger worldwide has almost tripled since 2019.
According to the United Nations, the Horn of Africa is facing its worst food crisis in a decade, with 22 million people facing hunger and nearly one billion without enough to eat.
Caoime de Barra, CEO of Trocare, said: “The reality that people are dying of hunger in 2022 represents a profound political failure. We call on you to support the rapid and large-scale mobilization of humanitarian funds to address this crisis.”
“Irish foreign aid has not recovered from budget cuts since 2008 and remains at 0.32% of GNI over the past eight years. We urge Ireland to do its part and increase aid towards our international pledge of 0.7 per cent GNI.”
“It is alarming that over the past two years the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance worldwide has risen dramatically from 135 million to more than 345 million.
“Amid soaring commodity and energy prices, the conflict in Ukraine is exacerbating an already devastating food crisis around the world.”
She said the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa due to the global climate crisis is particularly devastating, fueled by the region’s most severe drought in at least 70 years.
“The number facing severe hunger in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia is estimated to rise from 22 million in May to almost 30 million by the end of this year. We are facing a serious food crisis.”
She said the country is on the brink of a major crisis, with Trocare staff reporting a rapid increase in the number of people suffering from malnutrition in Somalia’s Gedo region, where Trocare operates medical services. said.
Despite contributing just 0.08% of global emissions, Somalia ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.
De Barra stresses not only the need to address the hunger crisis, but also investments to address the root causes of hunger, including adapting to climate change, building sustainable food systems, and promoting human rights and gender equality. also said to be desperately needed.
For more information, visit www.Trocaire.org.
