A Laois man has just taken up a new post with the United Nations in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he will be deployed for the next six months.
Evin Joyce, 38, from Glenbarrow, is the 500th member to be deployed from Ireland’s Rapid Response Roster.
The Roster is a panel of humanitarian experts managed by Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Evin will work as a community engagement specialist to ensure the UN knows about and responds to the needs of ordinary people.
He explained the nature of his work and the environment on the ground.
Evin said: “The security situation at the moment is very challenging, as there are armed actors encroaching on the town, the electricity is down, whether that is intentional or not.
“They are fighting for different bits of territory, so it’s very important to create humanitarian space so we can access the people who are in greatest need, while always remaining politically neutral.”
Evin Joyce was recruited to Ireland’s Rapid Response Roster in 2017 after gaining five years of professional experience from previous missions working directly with the United Nations.
He works within communities to identify the high priority humanitarian needs of people to ensure reliable and regular aid reaches them.
He explained: “No two days are the same. I meet with the recipients of the assistance we’re providing, visiting refugee camps and rural communities.
“I carry out exercises with different demographic groups such as teenagers, elder men, children, to identify what their major needs are and to see what we can do to best match these basic needs.
“It is challenging and high pressure and there is a culture of emergency.”
Evin’s deployment marks a milestone for Ireland’s Rapid Response Roster.
Evin said: “I’m really honoured to be the 500th Rapid Responder, it’s a real credit to the guys in Irish Aid who get us out here in the first place with a lot of hidden leg work.
“The Rapid Response Roster is so important to have in place as it enables the United Nations to fulfil specialised humanitarian roles when they do not have capacity of people to fill them.
“Our mission as humanitarians is to try access the most vulnerable to ease their suffering and save lives.
“It’s one of the greatest privileges I’ve ever known – to work for the United Nations representing your own country as an expert on a mission and humanitarian operation.”
In 2019, Evin went on his first deployment with Irish Aid to Malawi where he helped people affected by a devastating cyclone there.
He has also carried out humanitarian work in Mali and Zambia.
Evin will be working with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help those displaced by violence.
The DRC is one of the world’s largest forgotten crises. One in four Congolese cannot meet their basic food needs. Almost 7 million people have been forced to leave their homes due to violence between different armed groups.
They are also hosting over half a million refugees from neighbouring countries.
Minister of State for International Development, at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Seán Fleming, said: “It is great to see a fellow Laois man deploy from the Rapid Response Roster. Through the Roster, Ireland provides different kinds of experts to the UN.
“We have experts in nutrition, education, logistics, child protection and lots more. It is all part of Ireland’s response to humanitarian crises around the world.
“We added 50 more people to the Roster in 2023, and I am delighted to be meeting them in Dublin this week.
“There is a good gender balance, with 60% male and 40% female, and a good mix of Irish and international members.”
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