Jim O'Keeffe
Question:99 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of financial support given to the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2000; and the amount proposed or estimated for 2001. [10838/01]
Written Answers - Humanitarian Aid.
The International Committee of the Red Cross – ICRC – and its affiliated organisations of the Red Cross family, function as a neutral intermediary in the event of armed conflict or unrest. The Red Cross endeavours, on its own initiative or on the basis of the Geneva conventions, to bring protection and assistance to the victims of armed conflict and internal disturbances and tension. The ICRC is one of the partner organisations with which the Government works in responding to emergencies and humanitarian disasters.
Ireland contributed a total of £1,540,000 to the ICRC in 2000 for humanitarian relief and rehabilitation assistance programmes in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Lebanon, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan. During the same period, the Department of Defence made a separate, multilateral contribution of £100,000 to the ICRC, by way of its annual contribution towards its organisational costs. So far this year, the Government has contributed £750,000 to the ICRC for their appeals in Burundi, Iraq and Sudan. Further disbursal through the ICRC is anticipated during 2001.
In addition, the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies which is also a member of the Red Cross family, received £444,613 during 2000 for humanitarian emergencies in Belize, Madagascar, Mongolia and Venezuela. To date during 2001, the Federation has received a total of £450,000 from the Government in response to the earthquakes which struck El Salvador and India.
As part of its ongoing responses to humanitarian emergencies, the Government will continue to work closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross and its affiliates of the Red Cross family. This reflects the high regard in which they are held by Ireland and other members of the international community and the important role which they fulfil in providing early assistance to vulnerable and suffering people.