Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 January 2024
63. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of Ireland’s financial and in-kind assistance to Palestine since October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3407/24]
View answerIreland’s support to Palestinian people, including development funding and the response to the war in Gaza amounted to €36 million in 2023. Of this, €20 million was provided in assistance in response to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza. This €20 million in assistance included:
* €10 million in additional core funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides essential services to 5.7 million Palestine refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
* €4.44 million to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs’ (UN OCHA) Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund, which channels resources to key humanitarian partners on the ground based on needs.
* €2.6 million to the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP is a critical part of the response, addressing the basic food and nutritional needs of the population.
* €1 million to the World Health Organisation to help the organisation deliver an emergency health response to protect health needs and reduce mortality and morbidity.
* €2 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for use by the Palestine Red Crescent and Egyptian Red Crescent. The IFRC Secretariat launched a Federation-wide response plan to address needs including health, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter and in-kind assistance.
* 50 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, which included tents which were distributed in Gaza this month through Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative.
* Costs for an Irish Rapid Response member's deployment with UNICEF.
We continue to follow developments closely and stand ready to provide further vital assistance.
