Vol. 531 No. 1
62 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the total death toll arising from the recent earthquakes in El Salvador; and if the Government has increased the amount of emergency aid made available, following the further deaths, devastation and hardship from the second earthquake. [5016/01]
The Government remains deeply concerned about the compounded impact of the earthquakes of 13 January and 13 February on the population of El Salvador. These have directly affected more than one million people. According to reports from the national emergency committee, the latest figures from the second earthquake show 283 people dead and 2,937 injured. The official death toll from the first earthquake, according to Red Cross figures, is 827 but this number may still increase as many people remain missing.
As detailed in my previous reply to questions on 30 January, the Irish Government was quick to respond to the international appeal for assistance made by the President of El Salvador in the days following the earthquake. On Monday, 15 January, an initial allocation of £200,000 was made to the International Federation of the Red Cross which had activated its emergency plan as soon as the earthquake happened. A further £300,000 was granted to the Irish non-governmental organisations Trócaire, Concern and GOAL, who quickly mobilised resources and personnel in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. The Irish Government's support for these programmes will help approximately 10,000 families to recover from the impact of this disaster and represents a total Ireland Aid response to the first earthquake in El Salvador of £500,000.
Since the second earthquake, further proposals for funding have been received from NGOs working in the affected area. These proposals are currently being given sympathetic consideration by Ireland Aid under the established criteria for emergency funding and further Ireland Aid support is anticipated. Together with our EU partners, we have to date provided over 21 million euro in bilateral aid to the relief effort in El Salvador.
