A woman washes her hands as part of Ebola prevention initiative in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

A woman washes her hands as part of Ebola prevention initiative in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

IRELAND CONTRIBUTED ALMOST €65o million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) last year, according to the Irish Aid Annual Report 2015 which was released today.

Among the causes that the money was allocated to, were the Ebola recovery plan in Sierra Leone; improving maternal health services in Mozambique; and providing fuel-efficient stoves to Malawi as part of global climate change efforts.

Of the total €647.51 million that was allocated to international development, €142 million, or over 20%, was spent on emergency humanitarian support in conflict and natural disaster situations.

The top five recipient countries of humanitarian support in 2015 were Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Central Africa Republic.

Commenting on the work of Irish Aid, Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh said that this year “was a year that was once more marked by appalling levels of human suffering as a result of conflict and natural disasters”.

He added:

Irish Aid allocated €142 million which was used to provide shelter, food and essential services to thousands of communities across the world.

The Irish Aid Annual Report 2015 also says that Ireland contributed to the successful peace negotiations in Colombia; human rights issues in South America, and achieving a 100% retention rate for girls in education in specific areas of Afghanistan.