The Minister for Food, Agriculture and the Marine, Simon Coveney has announced Ireland will donate €60 million to the UN World Food Programme over the next three years,
Simon Coveney is in Milan with his Italian counterpart, and U2 frontman Bono, to highlight the work of the UN's food programme which helps 80 million of the world's most malnourished people - including those caught up in the current migration crisis.
Today @Expo2015Milano I am signing a partnership with @WFP to commit €60m to Refugee relief - #ItBeginsWithMe - Ireland will play its part.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) September 6, 2015
Minister Coveney said: “We cannot ignore the awful spectre of masses of ordinary people fleeing their homelands in search of safety and a better life for their loved ones.
“We are privileged in Europe and that privilege carries a responsibility to care for those that are less fortunate than we are.
“Funding commitments to WFP will not solve the current crisis but they will provide the WFP will the practical means to deliver emergency assistance to the most needy and fragile and to ensure that life-saving supplies of food and nutrition are available at short notice.”
The Minister said this commitment makes Ireland one of the largest per capita donors to the World Food Programme.
It has been revealed that approximately 795 million people go to bed hungry each night across the globe.
Chief Executive of Concern, Dominic MacSorley says it's time we all take note of the issue:
The charitable move comes as over 14,000 Irish people have “pledged a bed” to house refugees caught up in the crisis.
14,032 beds pledged so far by the ppl of Ire. Government must match the peoples commitment #refugeeswelcome @rtenews @MarianRTE @NewstalkFM
— Uplift (@UpliftIRL) September 6, 2015
Irish advocacy group, Uplift, launched the campaign two days ago and have now received 14,032 offers to home displaced refugees.
The organisation says the pledge is not a definite commitment but “is a powerful way of showing solidarity and practical action”.
Over 36,000 people have also signed a petition calling on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to allow “thousands not hundreds of refugees seek refuge in Ireland”.
