The plea comes ahead of a briefing for TDs and senators on conditions in Sudan where war, famine and floods have left millions on the brink of catastrophe.
“The enormity of the crisis in Sudan is hard to comprehend,” said Jane Ann McKenna, chief executive of Dóchas, the Irish Network of Non-Governmental Organisations.
“An incredible number, 26 million people’s lives are hanging in the balance,” she said in a presentation for the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
In that context, the decision to allocate just €35 million extra to the country’s overseas development assistance (ODA) funding in last week’s budget was “deeply disappointing”.
The extra sum brings the ODA budget for 2025 to €810m (excluding for Ukrainian refugees) or 0.37pc of total national income.
Ireland joined other wealthy countries decades ago in committing to giving 0.7pc of national income to poor nations annually but the closest it ever came was 0.59pc in 2008.
“We fear there is a growing disconnect between the escalating needs globally and our ODA funding as we move further away from reaching the 0.7pc target,” Ms McKenna said.
She was joined by representatives from Concern, Trocaire and Goal in detailing the horrors unfolding in Sudan.
“Nine million children are food insecure, 3.4 million children are at high risk of epidemic diseases and more than 700,000 children under five years old risk dying from starvation,” she said.
“Floods further threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. More than 12 million people have fled their homes.
“Many have been forced to flee repeatedly, with little access to shelter, income and basic necessities.
“Civilians are suffering horrific forms of abuse and gender-based violence. Reports of indiscriminate attacks, killings and other atrocities are gruesome hallmarks of this conflict.”
Ms McKenna said recent statements by Government on Sudan were welcome in drawing attention to the situation.
Taoiseach Simon Harris committed in the Dáil to using Ireland’s voice to demand a ceasefire and humanitarian access while Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Minister of State Sean Fleming raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly.
“However, we believe it is important that Ireland’s voice, as a champion for those furthest behind, is matched by its funding,” she said.
