Brian Hayes
Ceist:37 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance which the Government intends to make available to the interim Afghan Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3726/02]
Vol. 548 No. 1
37 Mr. B. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance which the Government intends to make available to the interim Afghan Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3726/02]
49 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his participation in the Ministerial Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan. [3760/02]
76 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the full extent of the Government's con tribution towards the alleviation of hardship and starvation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4047/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 49 and 76 together.
The Government retains its strong commitment to supporting the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, involving the ongoing provision of emergency humanitarian assistance and supporting the process of national reconstruction in that country. Ireland has played a key role in ensuring that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has been kept to the fore alongside the political aspects, including at the United Nations Security Council. In its ongoing contacts at the UN, within the EU and at other fora, the Government is emphasising that there must be a visible and effective strategy for meeting the needs of over 5 million people in Afghanistan who require humanitarian assistance. The urgency of assisting to those in acute need is underlined by the images we have seen of hunger in the region and the severe drought from which Afghanistan continues to suffer.
During 2001, a total of €5.08 million was provided by the Government in official humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. This commitment was enhanced by an Irish ministerial attendance at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan in Tokyo in January of this year. At this conference I made a pledge of €12 million in reconstruction assistance on behalf of the Irish people. These funds will be made available over the coming three years. This pledge is in addition to our ongoing emergency relief and recovery assistance, which combined with our reconstruction commitments, is likely to see our support to Afghanistan during 2002 exceed that provided last year.