I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 101 and 102 together.
The Government is extremely concerned about the appalling suffering of the people of Gaza and the immediate need for a humanitarian ceasefire.
Our Rapid Response Initiative supports the deployment of experts and the prepositioning of emergency stocks for immediate release in humanitarian crises. The Department maintains a Rapid Response Roster, of a range of experts required by our humanitarian partner organisations, in areas such as water, sanitation, nutrition, logistics, shelter, gender and child protection.
Irish Aid does not maintain a roster of healthcare volunteers and the Government does not currently maintain military or civilian Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) for international deployment. We are therefore not considering such a deployment to the Middle East. The Department has responded to the group of medical professionals referred to by the Deputy.
Operating in highly challenging environments demands unique expertise that many healthcare professionals will not have developed in the course of their routine duties. For these reasons, all major organisations responding to a health emergency now provide rigorous pre-deployment training for volunteers, and usually maintain rosters of trained individuals. It may therefore be challenging for individuals who have not previously completed the training or registered with a humanitarian organisation to volunteer their services for short-term deployments in the middle of a crisis.
For healthcare professionals able to volunteer their services for longer periods, or seeking temporary employment, the most direct approach, whether in Gaza or in neighbouring countries, is to offer their services to existing organisations which have the necessary support structures and training programmes in place. These organisations would include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Health Organisation or one of the humanitarian agencies already operational in the region.
The Department currently advises Irish citizens against all travel to the occupied Palestinian territory, with the exception of East Jerusalem, where we advise against all but essential travel. The Department recommends a high degree of caution for travel to Egypt.
Under the EU health response, partners have been delivering critical medical supplies, drugs, and medications across Gaza. These partners continue to deliver health services including support to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for lifesaving services. The Humanitarian Air Bridge launched and funded by the EU to support humanitarian partners has transported 1,763 tonnes of supplies including medicines and medical supplies. Additionally, the EU has provided various medical devices from EU medical stockpiles.
In response to a request from the Egyptian health authorities, Ireland has provided three pallets of medical blood bags through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). We have also provided 50 tonnes of relief supplies, including 500 family tents and 3000 tarpaulins from Irish Aid emergency stocks for distribution in Gaza, under the Rapid Response Initiative. These were distributed to 1,500 families in Gaza, in partnership with Trócaire and Catholic Relief Services.
We will continue to provide critical assistance to the Palestinian people in the most effective ways possible, including through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). We have provided €40 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the suffering caused by the conflict in Gaza since last October.
