Ireland will send more than €9 million in Government-funded humanitarian aid packages to Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa's "forgotten emergencies". Details of the donations were announced yesterday by the Minister of State for Overseas Development and Human Rights, Mr Tom Kitt.
In excess of half the funding, €5 million, has been allotted to Iraq.
"The situation on the ground in Iraq is volatile and dangerous. Every effort must be made to create a safe and stable environment which will facilitate this," Mr Kitt said.
The Minister added that the key focus of the aid was on emergency support for health services, water and sanitation, food assistance and support for internally displaced persons.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and UNICEF will receive €2.5 million between them towards their humanitarian relief operations in Iraq.
The remaining €2.5 million will go to leading Non-Government Organisations, such as Concern, GOAL and Trócaire.
International agencies including the UN World Food Programme and the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance will also be helped.
Afghanistan has been allocated €2.25 million "recovery assistance" by the Government.
Africa's "forgotten emergencies" will receive over €2 million in humanitarian funding.
The countries to be helped include: Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Somalia.
Announcing details of the way in which the Government's €5 million for Iraq would be spent, Mr Kitt said the priority had to be getting humanitarian aid in as quickly as possible to "the most vulnerable Iraqi people".
On the Government's decision to award funding to UN agencies, Mr Kitt said "the UN agencies are best placed to deliver assistance and must play a central role in the provision of humanitarian aid in this crisis".
Noting the problems presented by overburdened Iraqi hospitals, food and water shortages, power cuts and looting, Mr Kitt said the humanitarian effort must be given priority.
The Minister also called for field hospitals to be set up to ease the burdens on hospitals in Baghdad.