Brian Hayes
Question:37 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance which the Government intends to make available to the interim Afghan Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3726/02]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:49 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his participation in the Ministerial Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan. [3760/02]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:76 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the full extent of the Government's con tribution towards the alleviation of hardship and starvation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4047/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 49 and 76 together.
The Government retains its strong commitment to supporting the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, involving the ongoing provision of emergency humanitarian assistance and supporting the process of national reconstruction in that country. Ireland has played a key role in ensuring that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has been kept to the fore alongside the political aspects, including at the United Nations Security Council. In its ongoing contacts at the UN, within the EU and at other fora, the Government is emphasising that there must be a visible and effective strategy for meeting the needs of over 5 million people in Afghanistan who require humanitarian assistance. The urgency of assisting to those in acute need is underlined by the images we have seen of hunger in the region and the severe drought from which Afghanistan continues to suffer.
During 2001, a total of €5.08 million was provided by the Government in official humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. This commitment was enhanced by an Irish ministerial attendance at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan in Tokyo in January of this year. At this conference I made a pledge of €12 million in reconstruction assistance on behalf of the Irish people. These funds will be made available over the coming three years. This pledge is in addition to our ongoing emergency relief and recovery assistance, which combined with our reconstruction commitments, is likely to see our support to Afghanistan during 2002 exceed that provided last year.
At the Tokyo conference I outlined the need for strong co-ordination between humanitarian assistance, recovery, reconstruction and development in Afghanistan. This was reiterated by a number of donors. There was also general agreement on the central role which must be accorded to the people of Afghanistan and their representatives in the reconstruction process. The European Union has pledged €600 million in 2002 for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is anticipated that similar amounts will be available in subsequent years. This substantial pledge by the EU, fully supported by Ireland, is an indication of a long-term commitment to Afghanistan. This pledge places the European Union at the very forefront of the challenge to rebuild Afghanistan. The Tokyo conference recognised that the UN has played and should continue to play a pivotal role in Afghanistan and Ireland fully supports this view. UNDP will lead the recovery effort on behalf of the UN system and will have a central role in the co-ordination of donor efforts. In Tokyo, I met the chairman of the interim Admin istration of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, and the Secretary General of the UN, Kofi Annan. At these meetings I reiterated Ireland's continued commitment to assisting the Afghan people.
Ireland Aid officials are currently carrying out an assessment mission to Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan and are meeting Irish NGOs, UNDP and other regional representatives and co-ordinators as part of their field visit. This mission will assist in planning aid disbursement which is effective and which can target those most in need. The Government will continue to work closely with Irish NGOs, the UN, ICRC and our other implementing partners to ensure maximum co-ordination of the donor effort.