70% of Irish people are proud of the country's contribution to humanitarian relief

More than eight in 10 Irish people think media coverage is vital to increasing public awareness of humanitarian crises.

A study by Oxfam Ireland on World Humanitarian Day says seven out of 10 Irish people are proud of Ireland's role in global relief efforts.

Half of those surveyed have donated to an emergency appeal in the past year.

Colm Byrne, Humanitarian Manager at Oxfam Ireland, says as a nation we are extremely generous:

"One in two have donated to an emergency appeal in the past year … Irish people also support [others] through tax revenue.

"Irish people are very generous givers, and clearly, in tables produced across the world of countries that provide the greatest contribution, Ireland regularly appears in the top ten."

The UN Refugee Agency's Ireland office said the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean has highlighted the work of Humanitarians across the globe.

External Relations officer Jodi Clarke said the involvement of Irish naval and army officers in the situation has brought the issue home for people here.

"In one week alone, 20,000 people arrived in Greece … it's very hard for us to grasp that here in Ireland, when you consider that only 1,400 people came and sought asylum here last year.

"The fact that Irish people are working on the front line in the Mediterranean has brought it home to people in Ireland."