The conflict in Kosovo has led to the greatest mass displacement of people in Europe since the end of the Second World War. There are now up to 750,000 refugees in the region. To put this in a familiar context, this is the equivalent of the population of Connacht-Ulster being forced to move into Leinster and Munster. Such a huge movement of people has put huge strains on countries who have received the refugees, mainly Albania and Macedonia.
It has also put a huge strain on the resources of the humanitarian organisations which have tried to ensure basic food supplies and medical care and some degree of shelter for the refugees. These bodies have performed heroically in the most difficult circumstances. Without their intervention many more of those who fled the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo would have died of hunger and disease.
While there are many humanitarian organisations in many countries doing great work, including Trócaire, Concern, Goal and others from Ireland, the UNHCR is the international body with primary responsibility for dealing with the plight of refugees. Its role is to protect and assist refugees worldwide and to try to find a solution to their plight. The UNHCR is in crisis because of the strain put on it by the scale of the exodus from Kosovo. It has spent all the cash available for the Kosovo emergency and it would be appalling if, as a result of the cash shortage, its operations in the Balkans had to be stopped or scaled down.
The UNHCR has appealed for $143 million to allow it continue its operations. So far it has received only $71 million, much of which is already spent or committed. According to a list of donations published by the UNHCR on Monday, the biggest donor has been Japan which has contributed $23.1 million. Neither Ireland nor the EU appear on the list which is surprising and shameful. When I raised this matter on the Order of Business this morning, the Taoiseach said that the EU had contributed 20 million ECU this week – £15 million. This is far short of what is needed or what the EU can afford.
This conflict is taking place in Europe, the wealthiest continent in the world, with Europeans being displaced and dying at the hands of other Europeans. The biggest response to the UNHCR has come from Japan. With the enormous resources at the EU's disposal, it must be possible for it to respond in a generous way to the appeal from the UNHCR.
Ireland is creating record wealth and the Exchequer is awash with cash. Surely it is possible for us to respond to the UNHCR and, at least, match the contribution of $3.4 million made by Denmark and the Netherlands. The Minister for Foreign Affairs should meet our obligations by making a substantial contribution to allow the UNHCR continue its work. If a Supplementary Estimate is required the Labour Party will facilitate its immediate passage through the Dáil.
There is also an obligation on those NATO countries pursuing the air war against Yugoslavia to match the money they are spending on the military campaign with similar resources for the humanitarian effort. The war has cost billions of dollars. No one other than the Governments involved know the exact amount. Each cruise missile costs about $1 million. The money sought by the UNHCR is the equivalent of 140 cruise missiles. That money must be found. The only way to ease the plight of the refugees permanently is through greater political and diplomatic efforts to secure a settlement to the conflict which will allow all refugees to return to their homes. The murderous attacks on Kosovar Albanians by Serb regular and irregular forces must stop.
It is deplorable that Slobodan Milosevic should have refused today to meet the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Mary Robinson, when she planned to meet him and present him with incontrovertible evidence of the involvement of his forces in ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Milosevic has shown once again his contempt for human rights, for civilised standards and for the United Nations. Neverthe less, we must redouble our efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the region and ensure the safe return home of the Kosovar Albanians.