Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2014
36. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on Ireland's recent efforts in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; if he plans further measures in terms of aid or diplomatic pressure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/14]
View answerI am deeply concerned at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza which I witnessed firsthand during my visit to the occupied Palestinian territory last October. The situation has deteriorated in recent months due to an acute economic and energy crisis caused by the long standing restrictions on the movement of people and goods from Gaza, but was further exacerbated by the winter storms in December.
In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza in 2013, Ireland provided additional funding of €500,000 to UNRWA (the UN agency dedicated to responding to the needs of Palestinian refugees) to support the food assistance element of their Gaza Emergency Appeal. This brings Ireland's total contribution to UNRWA's appeals for Gaza to €4.64 million since 2006 and underlies our continuing commitment to meeting the emergency needs of the Palestinian people. UNRWA's food assistance provides a lifeline for thousands of refugee families in Gaza and helps to prevent a potentially large scale crisis in a context where an estimated 57% of households are classified as food insecure. This funding support was in addition to Ireland's broader programme of assistance to the Palestinian people and brought our total funding support in 2013 to €10.7 million. This included support to UNRWA's general fund, the Palestinian Authority, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and civil society organisations working to promote human rights and democratisation.
In the coming year, Ireland will continue to support actively the search for a lasting and peaceful political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the wider region. The Government will continue to press, at both political and diplomatic levels, for an end to the blockade of Gaza. The Government has also appealed to all relevant parties – especially Israel but also Palestinian leaders and Egypt – to take account of the effect their policies are having on the people of Gaza. In the meantime, we will continue, as we have done for many years, to offer the humanitarian support which is essential in addressing the ongoing basic and emergency needs of the Palestinian people.
