asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated number of refugees from Afghanistan who have crossed the border into Pakistan as a result of the Soviet invasion and the level of aid being made available to those refugees from (i) national, (ii) EEC and (iii) international sources.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afghanistan Refugees.
17.
Current estimates place the number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan at approximately 736,000. In co-operation with the Government of Pakistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a programme of humanitarian relief, which is expected to cost $72 million in 1980. In response to an appeal by the UNHCR for international assistance in financing this programme, the Council of Ministers of the Community approved a contribution from Community resources of $17.7 million in financial and food aid. Ireland has not as yet made a direct bilateral contribution to the relief programme but this is under consideration at present.
Mr. O'Brien
Apart from the figure of £8 million from the EEC, have this Government any genuine intention of helping out on a bilateral basis?
We are contributing under United Nations and EEC agencies. We are fully committed in the current budget to discharging our obligations. As I said, substantial funds have been made available by the United Nations and EEC agencies.
Would the Minister consider that £8 million is a substantial contribution from the EEC?
And £36 million from the United Nations.
Would the Minister not agree that the least this Government should contribute directly and without delay to the relief of Afghan refugees is the amount of money they have denied to the Irish Olympic Council in going to Moscow?
That is not a supplementary question. Question No. 18.
Can the Government afford it?
I will consider any suggestion.