Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Seán Ryan
Question:
47
Mr. S. Ryan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on whether the Government award of £110,000 to the Palestinians, as a humanitarian response to the shortage of medical supplies in the West Bank, should be significantly increased.
[22346/00]
The ongoing confrontations in the West Bank and Gaza have left a huge number of people seriously injured, many of whom are reported to have been permanently maimed. The recent unrest in these areas has placed enormous strain on local medical capacity and emergency access has proven difficult to maintain. At the same time, the conflict has been of extreme danger to medical personnel seeking to give appropriate and timely attention to its victims. Emergency facilities at local hospitals have been severely overstretched and their supplies have been depleted.
Against this background, the Government agreed to respond to a request from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency operating in the areas of conflict to provide urgent emergency medical assistance. UNRWA's request was for US$100,000 and this amount, £91,000, was granted in full. This intervention was recommended by Ireland's representative office to the Palestinian authority in Ramallah which will also monitor its immediate benefit to those who require urgent medical attention.
This humanitarian intervention was made in response to the situation on the ground and must also be considered in the context of Ireland's wider programme in the Palestinian administered areas. This year £1.8 million has been allocated to the programme including: a grant of £500,000 in support of UNRWA's normal day-to-day activities in relief, health and other social services; over £500,000 for a sectoral support programme with the Palestinian Ministry of Education. Activities include the provision of textbooks, furnishing and equipping of a secondary school and improving the capacity of the general examination system; over £200,000 to Bethlehem University in support for its training and community outreach programmes, in areas such as physiotherapy, nursing, water quality and education; and support was also given to PARC – for rural development, environment protection and enhancement of the role and status of rural women – and to a Save the Children microfinance project.
In addition, the EU has been providing technical co-operation and financial assistance to the West Bank and Gaza since 1996. Recent projects approved by the European Commission's Meda Programme include four million euros for the provision of equipment for the collection, transfer and disposal of solid waste in the West Bank and 14.6 million euros for an environmental and sanitation project.
Since the US $100,000 humanitarian grant was approved, Ireland Aid has not received any further requests for emergency aid and it is understood that other substantial contributions have been made in response to the current crisis. We are continuing to monitor developments in the region and in particular through our diplomatic missions in Ramallah and Tel Aviv.
