Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 3

Written Answers. - Humanitarian Assistance.

Seán Ryan

Question:

98 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government intends to take either unilaterally or through the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan where the lives of up to four million people are threatened by conflict, drought and food shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17794/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

More than 20 years of conflict has ruined the economy and reduced the living conditions of most of Afghanistan's 20 million population to a bare subsistence level. The United Nations system recently estimated that over half a million Afghans have left their homes since last year due to drought, conflict, or a combination of both, while nearly three million Afghans are now dependent on food aid for survival.

The Government is actively responding to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Last year, it made that country a priority for humanitarian support as a forgotten emergency and assistance of £440,000 was provided. In March, the Government announced a further package of emergency aid totalling £953,000. This is addressing the effects of drought, crop failure, conflict and displacement, which have devastated the lives of millions of Afghans. It includes allocations to the Irish non-governmental organisations Concern and Christian Aid for projects providing emergency assistance to the most vulnerable among those affected by drought. Some £750,000 was granted to the UN agencies, the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and UNICEF through the UN Consolidated Appeal for Afghanistan. This is being directed at the areas of greatest need such as food assistance, food security and emergency health activities.

Further assistance for Afghanistan is anticipated, including an imminent allocation to the countrywide mine victim assistance programme of the International Committee of the Red Cross. By the end of this month, therefore, the Government will have allocated a total of £1.6 million in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan over the preceding nine-month period. This significant contribution is part of a determined effort by the Government to be more pro-active in responding to emergencies through Ireland Aid, while at the same time enabling more timely humanitarian interventions in the field.

The European Union is the principal donor for the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. In the period 1991-2001, approximately 400 million has been committed by the European Commission for programmes focusing on emergency aid to refugees, returnees and internally displaced people. The Government, along with our European Union colleagues, continues to raise the need to improve the conditions of the general population of Afghanistan. We have stressed the importance of finding a long-term, comprehensive solution which addresses the political difficulties, the issues of terrorism and drugs, as well as the humanitarian situation, including at the UN Security Council. We will continue our efforts to help resolve these issues while at the same time providing bilateral humanitarian assistance.