Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 3

Written Answers. - Victims of Bosnian Conflict.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

59 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the further proposals, if any, Ireland has to deal with victims of the Bosnian conflict; and if he will make a statement on recent allegations that EU countries are only interested in providing assistance for child victims and not adults.

The Government is committed to providing relief for the emergency humanitarian needs of the victims on all sides of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. That commitment was renewed most recently at the meeting held in Geneva on 29 November 1993 between European Union Ministers and the parties to the conflict.

Since the conflict began, the Government has allocated £1.2 million pounds in emergency humanitarian assistance to the international relief operation in the former Yugoslavia. In addition, Ireland also plays its part in the European Union's programme of humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia.

The Government agreed to accept two hundred refugees from the former Yugoslavia in July 1992 and a further 200 refugees in June 1993. We have never applied restrictions as regards age or ethnic background of those persons admitted here under this programme. At present, our efforts are concentrated on facilitating the family reunification of Bosnians who have already been admitted to Ireland. We are using all available channels to ensure that relatives, many of whom are trapped in besieged cities in central Bosnia, may travel to Ireland as soon as possible.
Ireland has also supported the medical evacuation programme which is operated by the UNHCR and the International Office of Migration for the former Yugoslavia. We have accepted ten serious orthopaedic cases for treatment in Ireland in Cappagh Hospital. Again, no restrictions as regards age or the ethnic background of the injured persons were imposed. The medical evacuees, eight adults and two minors, are in continuing need of medical treatment in Ireland. They will not be required to return to the former Yugoslavia when their treatment is completed. The evacuees and their relatives have been offered the same legal status and entitlements as other persons admitted here as refugees from the former Yugoslavia.
The joint UNHCR/IOM medical evacuation programme in the former Yugoslavia is continuing. It is understood that there are a large number of offers of treatment available under that programme from other countries.
Barr
Roinn