Press Release
February 26, 2025 • 3 min read
(Issue 26 February 2025) After captaining the Irish rugby team last Saturday against Wales, when the team brought the Triple Crown home, GOAL Ambassador and worldclass Hooker, Dan Sheehan, is now lending his voice and support, as the aid agency launches a new public appeal. Funds raised through this appeal will allow GOAL to continue its work to respond to the rapid escalation of crises around the world and support displaced communities in some of the world’s most devastated regions, where conflict and climate emergencies are rife.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign and knowing what can be achieved when a team truly pulls together, Dan Sheehan said
“GOAL as an Irish humanitarian agency has a proud history over the last 48 years of continuing the fight against extreme poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and the lack of basic health care, across the globe. GOALies and their partners in the most fragile and conflict-ridden countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Chad, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Haiti face vast humanitarian crises head on. And with the support of people like you, the agency delivers emergency aid and relief to stem extreme suffering and sustain life. That’s why I’m proud to champion this appeal and ask you to show your generosity and donate what you can to GOAL at this critical point.”
According to the UN, nearly 300 million people in 72 countries around the world needed humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other drivers last year. The needs, especially in countries where GOAL works, will be even greater in 2025. Some of these countries include.
- SYRIA especially Northwest Syria, where the earthquakes of February 2023 brough vast destruction and increased the humanitarian needs of a country where 7.4M people are already displaced due to conflict, deepening food insecurities, diseases, and stable sources of water.
- SUDAN where the conflict which started in April 2023, has caused the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crisis to date, with over 8.8 million people forcibly displaced inside Sudan, causing extreme hunger and widespread disease and a dire humanitarian situation.
- HAITI where humanitarian needs continue to increase amidst unprecedented levels of gang violence. Today more than five million Haitians need humanitarian assistance, and over 4.3 million are suffering acute food insecurity.
- GAZA where up to the ceasefire, an estimated 110,300 people had been injured and 22,500 had suffered life-altering injuries, including 4,500 amputations. Nearly 1.9 million people in Gaza are internally displaced, (95% of the population), living in makeshift shelters and 2.2 million people are currently experiencing food insecurity. The limited number of humanitarian supplies and restricted humanitarian access makes this one of the world’s crises that require urgent and continued assistance.
Also speaking about the launch of this appeal, Helen McVeigh, GOAL’s Director of Fundraising said
“At this time and as the world witnesses ever intensifying and dire humanitarian crises, we ask the public to donate to GOAL and help us to address some of our funding gaps. The Irish public has come through for us before and we are confident that they will support us again. And GOAL will always turn that kind support into immediate and real impact for these most vulnerable communities in countries like Syria, Sudan, Haiti and Gaza where we will build resilient communities and deliver long term and positive intergenerational impact. Countless lives are depending on us so please donate what you can to GOAL.ie. That’s GOAL.ie.”
ENDS
