Stay up-to-date with Trócaire's work overseas, get news on key global social justice issues, and find out about our latest campaigns in Ireland and how you can get involved.
2024 was a year dominated by conflict. The war in Sudan has produced a humanitarian catastrophe with over 25 million people needing humanitarian assistance. In the last few years, we have been able to ramp up the reach of our work in Sudan – through Trócaire’s programmes and alongside our partners, we have reached 436,000 people in 2023 in comparison to 155,000 in 2022. Securing support is a challenge as the international community’s focus remains on conflict in Ukraine and Gaza.
In Tigray, Ethiopia, following a recent two-year conflict, a fragile peace allowed us to expand the work of our Trócaire office in Mekelle, where a dynamic, committed group of colleagues are working with our partners to support the needs of the communities most in need.
In breach of international humanitarian law, the Israeli army has killed over 45,000 people in Gaza since October 2023. Over 13,000 of those people were children. In the same period, over 3,000 people died in Lebanon. Trócaire has been responding through our partners in both countries to provide humanitarian assistance.
Elsewhere, Trócaire’s work continued around the world, helping communities to adapt to a climate change driven environment of increased droughts and flooding. At home our development education work continued to engage young people on the issues of social justice, global inequality and human rights, while our campaigners continued to call for action on climate change and the illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Children from the Junior infants’ class at Scoil Eoin national school in Innishannon, Co. Cork learn about climate justice and receive their first Trócaire box, February 2024. The Trócaire Box, which has been a firm Lent feature in Ireland for over 50 years, was rolled out to almost 635,000 homes, schools and churches as the Lent campaign kicked off. Photo: Mark Stedman.
Twins Patricia and Patrick (12) collecting water in Machinga District, Malawi. The twin’s mother Malita is a single mother to six children. The family featured on this year’s Trócaire box which highlighted the lack of access to water for many in the global south. The family have no direct access to clean water for the household and spend up to five hours every day fetching water. Photo: Muiru Mbuthia/Trócaire.
Melia Kamoto from the Machinga region of Malawi stands among a maize crop, March 2024. Trócaire is working with communities in the area supporting and training farmers to diversify towards more drought resistant crops. Climate change has intensified the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods in southern Africa. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA
“It’s important for young people to take climate action because if we don’t, we aren’t going to have a future. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Global North or Global South, all young people are vulnerable to climate change.”
Ineza Umuhoza Grace, founder and CEO of Trócaire partner ‘The Green Protector’ in Rwanda is driven by her own experience of her home being flooded when she was a child. Ineza now dedicates her life to advocating strongly for climate justice and for the countries on the frontlines to be listened to more in global climate negotiations.
“We are a generation that is able to generate change. We hold leaders accountable and we redesign our way of thinking. We are in this crisis together” Photo: Muiru Mbuthia
Dr Mahim Qureshi in the operating theatre at Al Aqsa Hospital, Gaza, 6 April 2024. Trócaire has supported our partner Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) in Gaza. MAP deploy an emergency medical team comprising a group of trauma doctors, surgeons, paediatricians and humanitarian experts. Over 45,000 people have been murdered in Israel’s war on the people of Gaza. Photo: Mohammed Aghaalkurdi/ MAP
Members of the ‘Campaign to Pass the Occupied Territories Bill’ at the Gaza solidarity march in Dublin on 5th October calling for the government to proceed with passing the stalled legislation which would ban trading with illegal Israeli settlements. Photo : Garry Walsh / Trócaire.
Youssef was forced to leave his home in Lebanon when Israel bombing commenced. “We were living in Mansouri while the bombing was happening. Suddenly, we had to leave our house. The roads were being bombed now and then, and we felt scared and cried. As soon as we got outside, cars were driving by, and we continued on foot until we reached here. We wish we could travel. Our situation is difficult, and we long to escape.”
Youssef left with his mother Kherriyye and his brothers and sisters. They have relocated to a school in the Bekka Valley that is now being used as emergency accommodation. They have been supported by Trócaire and Irish Aid through our partner Women Now for Development. Photo: Jacob Russell.
Pictured here, Madina, who received plumpy nuts to feed her malnourished son Muriabi from a supplementary feeding program provided by Trocaire at Thobo health center. Thobo’s internally displaced people’s camp is hosting over 50,000 people who escaped the ongoing war in Sudan. Photo: Achuoth Deng.
Daiman, feeding her severely malnourished son Ayan at a Trócaire health centre in Dollow, Somalia. The area has been severely affected by drought and flooding. Children under the age of five are the most affected, due to their weak immunity and because their mothers are not able to breast feed appropriately because of their own hunger. Photo: Maurine Akinyi.
Over 200 talented young people and their educators from across Ireland took part in the 2024 Trócaire Game Changers finals at The Helix in Dublin this April. Innovative entries raised awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the world around us. Pictured are the winners of the Game Changers Primary Category, St. Mary’s National School, Donnybrook, Dublin with their game ‘The Courtroom.’ The game is about human rights and getting to be in someone else’s shoes.
Over 223 entries from youngsters were received with 21 schools and 4 youth groups taking part in the finals. A total of 30 board, digital and card games – based on different themes including equality, sustainability, climate change and food security made it through to the finals, with young people playing and judging the games of fellow finalists at today’s event. Photo: Mark Stedman
Gustavo Adolfo Ayala, 53, in Santa Barbara, Honduras. Gustavo is pictured using a pluviometer to measure how much water falls during rain. He is the chairperson of a local committee working to reduce the communities’ risk from disaster.
Climate change is accelerating the frequency and intensity of floods, wildfires, landslides and hurricanes in Central America. In Guatemala and Honduras, Trócaire is working with European Union Humanitarian Aid and the national governments of Guatemala and Honduras on the ‘Let’s Work Together’ project to strengthen communities’ ability to prepare for, and respond to, disasters. Photo: Billy Santiago.
“I feel good because if I have something, I believe in sharing it with others, and I find joy in seeing my friends also working”
Donatire Uwiringiyimana is from the South of Rwanda, working with her community to combat deforestation and protect biodiversity.
Donatire lives beside Nyungwe rainforest, an important ecosystem which is under threat as people chop down trees for firewood. She is volunteering at a local level as a community biodiversity facilitator, educating people about the importance of protecting the rainforest.
She is also training women to learn how to sew, so they can earn a new income from tailoring and move away from selling firewood gathered from the rainforest. Photo: Muiru Mbuthia
