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Middle East Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

Questions (61, 67)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he plans to take with regard to the ongoing and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4138/19]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

67. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his European counterparts the worsening humanitarian situation in Palestine since the United States of America implemented cuts to infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3968/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 67 together.

Ireland is a longstanding and steadfast supporter of the Palestinian people and of a two-state solution. In 2018, we provided €15.38 million in development and humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Palestinian men, women and children, our highest level ever.  

In the Tánaiste's recent visits to the region, he has witnessed first-hand the increasingly fragile humanitarian situation on the ground and the daily challenges for the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. The ongoing Gaza blockade and recurrent outbreaks of hostilities have eroded basic infrastructure, service delivery, livelihoods and coping mechanisms. It is clear that humanitarian needs in Gaza are critical and that all key services, particularly the health service, are under severe strain. 

Ireland has responded to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, including in Gaza, for many years. Our funding is channelled primarily through UN and multi-lateral partners. In 2018, we significantly increased our funding to the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, providing an overall contribution of €9 million, so that it could continue to provide basic services such as food aid, education and health to some 5.3 million registered Palestine refugees, 1.4 million of whom are in Gaza. This was an increase of €3.5 million on their 2017 allocation.

We also provided €500,000 in 2018 to support the work of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, in the occupied Palestinian territory. This included €300,000 for the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Fund. The fund played a particularly important role in the international response to the injuries suffered by thousands of Gaza residents during the, “Great March of Return”, protests last year. 

In 2019, Ireland is committed to increasing our support to the Palestinian people. This will involve an expanded programme of scholarships for Palestinian students. I believe that Ireland can greatly increase its engagement with Palestine in this area. We are also working with the Palestinian Water Authority on the delivery of solar energy in Gaza to help alleviate the critical shortage of power there. This power shortage is crippling the Gazan economy and makes daily life and any form of economic activity very difficult and is one of the factors contributing to political instability.

Issues related to the situation in Palestine, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza, are regularly discussed with our EU partners. The EU and its Member States are the largest contributors of assistance to the Palestinian people.

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