Trócaire welcomes Taoiseach’s announcement to increase ODA

Trócaire echoes the Taoiseach’s sentiment “that the problems of the world are our problems as well…” Éamonn Meehan, Executive Director of Trócaire said: “Trócaire welcomes today’s commitment from An Taoiseach to increase Ireland’s overseas aid budget which will provide vital life changing support to the world’s most vulnerable people.

“Trócaire has recently made a submission on the upcoming Budget in which we map out how Ireland can meet its long standing commitment to providing 0.7pc of GNI* by 2025.

“The quality of Ireland’s aid is internationally renowned for its strong poverty reduction focus.

“We hope that October’s Budget will show progress on meeting this objective.

“Aid has been an important enabler of many of the world’s development success stories, such successes include the reduction of the child mortality rate in under 5s by half.

“Last year alone, Trócaire reached 2.6 million people – from Syrian refugees fleeing conflict to the drought and famine in East Africa which is affecting over 25 million people.

“The announcement for increasing ODA is timely as humanitarian needs across the globe are at an unprecedented level. Since January 2017, the number of people needing humanitarian aid has risen by 12.5 million people to 141.1 million in 37 countries where natural disaster or conflict has destroyed lives.”