Jim O'Callaghan
Question:455. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to provide support to Lebanon in view of the recent explosion in Beirut. [21508/20]
View answerTuesday, 8 September 2020
Questions (455)
Written answers
The explosion in Beirut occurred against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis In Lebanon and high levels of humanitarian need arising from Lebanon's very generous hosting of over 1.5 million Syrian refugees, exacerbated by the effects of the COVID pandemic.
So far this year, my Department, through Irish Aid, has provided €3.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, through the UN’s Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), as well as Concern and Trócaire. Each of these partners is crucial to supporting the ongoing refugee response and now the response to the explosion. Overall, Ireland has provided €30 million in funding to Lebanon since 2014.
Immediately following the explosion, Ireland provided significant stocks of medical supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment, to the World Health Organisation in Beirut which is coordinating the health response to the crisis. These supplies were transported by the Irish Defence Forces, which following decades of distinguished service in UNIFIL, have a special relationship with Lebanon. Ireland also provided emergency funding to Trócaire for the provision of urgent humanitarian supplies and Irish Aid is working with Concern on its explosion response.
Ireland also contributes to a number of pre-positioned emergency funds. In 2020, we provided €10 million to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The CERF has released €5 million for the immediate needs of Beirut. Ireland also provided €1 million in funding to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) disaster response following the explosion to support the work of Red Cross emergency responders.
As an EU Member State Ireland is also contributing to the wider EU response, which includes €64 million in new funding, and the deployment of search and rescue teams, medical experts and humanitarian responders, as well as substantial quantities of medical and humanitarian supplies.
The initial phase of the crisis, involving search and rescue with emergency medical care, is over. The UN has produced an assessment of needs and an appeal for the coming months. This will allow work restoring livelihoods and self-reliance to begin, with Ireland a partner in Lebanon's recovery.