The Irish government is to provide €3.2m to people affected by the "forgotten emergencies" in Africa.

The Central African Republic, Chad and Yemen will see the benefits with access to clean water as well as food and shelter for women and children.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan says the crisis in Chad and Yemen are not well-known situations, but that Ireland is helping to ensure these people are not forgotten.

Mr Flanagan said: "Forgotten crises often receive less international attention and funding than is required to meet even the most basic human needs - access to clean water, food and shelter. Away from the media spotlight, the vast majority of those affected are vulnerable women and children, and they need our continued help."

In the Central African Republic alone, 2.5 million people are in immediate need of humanitarian assistance with crisis levels of food insecurity affecting almost half of the population.

"Ireland has been internationally recognised for our focus on humanitarian emergencies, most recently in a very positive review carried out by the OECD. We provided over €68 million in humanitarian support to crises in 2014 and will continue this strong commitment into the new year," Mr Flanagan added.

The funding is being distributed with €1m going to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) response in Chad, €500,000 for the UN Emergency Response Fund in Yemen and €600,000 for Plan Ireland - to provide education for refugee children displaced from the Central African Republic into Cameroon.

A further €500,000 will be given for Oxfam Ireland's activities in the Central African Republic, €500,000 for Concern's work on agriculture and food security and €100,000 for Tearfund Ireland's activities also in the Central African Republic.