Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide has welcomed An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s commitment to increase Ireland’s overseas development aid budget – which it says will save lives.
Concern said the announcement – made in a speech at the Fine Gael party think-in event in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary today – is significant and timely with so many urgent humanitarian emergencies happening now across the world, including famine-like conditions in war-torn regions of east Africa and the ongoing Syrian and Rohingya refugee crises.
Concern Worldwide Chief Executive, Dominic MacSorley noted:
We are in the midst of truly exceptional global humanitarian crises.
We very much welcome this commitment from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, which will save lives and comes at a time when conflict, inequality and climate change are hitting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.
It shows Ireland’s willingness to engage with the problems of the world and to continue to be an outward looking nation.
The Taoiseach’s announcement also reinforces Ireland’s long-standing focus on where the needs are greatest.
ENDS
For more information or interview requests, please call Kevin Jenkinson at 086 358 2886 or by email: [email protected].
Concern Worldwide is an international non-governmental humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.
The public can receive regular updates on our news section or by following Concern on Twitter.
Concern Worldwide is certified by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) and is a member of Charities Institute Ireland.
Concern Worldwide, a company limited by guarantee, Registered Company Number: 39647, Registered Revenue Number: CHY 5745,
Registered Charity Number: 20009090, Registered in Ireland,
Registered address is 52 – 55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: +353 1 417 7700
