Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
105. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the plight of disabled and elderly residents in Gaza (details supplied); the steps his Department will take to address it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52387/23]
View answerThe humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and has worsened daily. I am gravely concerned about the safety and security of the population of Gaza, particularly the most vulnerable groups. I expressed my serious concern about Israel’s call on the entire population of northern Gaza to move southwards last month. As we warned at the time, this has proven to be incredibly dangerous for the civilian population, especially for vulnerable groups, including women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly. We have seen a deeply worrying pattern of attacks on healthcare at a time when the medical needs of Gazans, including persons with disabilities and the elderly, are skyrocketing. Attacks on healthcare and medical facilities are totally unacceptable; medical facilities and their staff are, and must be, protected under international humanitarian law.
Ireland recently provided an addition €13 million in support for the people of Palestine, through our trusted UN partners - €10 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and €3 million to UN OCHA’s occupied Palestine territory Humanitarian Fund. These organisations are working on the ground in extremely challenging conditions, delivering lifesaving assistance to the population of Gaza. UNRWA is providing specialised support, including dignity kits and assistive devices, to persons with disabilities, injured, children and elderly. We will be providing additional funding to address the needs of people in Gaza through further allocations to key partners in the coming weeks. We are acutely conscious that despite the massive international attention on this crisis, additional funding is urgently needed.
What is needed now is an extension and expansion of the current limited truce, to allow humanitarian assistance and supplies to reach those in desperate need, to re-stock hospitals with vital supplies and to let the most vulnerable, sick and elderly access lifesaving assistance. Ireland will continue to reiterate the call for a durable humanitarian ceasefire at every available opportunity, including in the EU, at the UN and with regional partners.
