Vol. 464 No. 4
16 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Defence the types of humanitarian assistance provided by Irish members of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon to civilians and refugees caught up in the current bombardment; the plans, if any, he has to expand that assistance in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8217/96]
Apart from their peacekeeping duties of monitoring, patrolling and reassuring the local population the Irish battalion personnel have provided the following humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Irish area of operations and in the wider UNIFIL area: shelter in Irish positions for as many as 1,000 persons at a given time — the number of civilians seeking shelter fluctuates with the prevailing security situation; the transport of civilians to Tibnin hospital; medicines, fuel and bedding have been distributed to those most in need; and Irish officers have led humanitarian convoys in areas outside the Irish battalion area of operations.
I want to draw particular attention to the role of the Irish UN troops in providing humanitarian assistance to the local population following the Israeli attack on Qana. This assistance was rendered under the most difficult of circumstances and the actions of the personnel of the Irish battalion were of great significance in the overall rescue effort.
