Ireland - Pakistan Business Council honours Irish Aid Minister for his commitment to earthquake response

Conor Lenihan TD, Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, will tonight be honoured by the Ireland - Pakistan Business Council for his role in the relief and recovery effort following last October's devastating earthquake in Pakistan. 

In his speech to the Council, Minister Lenihan will announce the allocation of the final €1 million of Ireland's €10 million pledge of assistance. This support will be focussed on helping to build homes for people so that they have adequate shelter over the harsh winter months.

Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Lenihan said:

“The situation arising from the earthquake in Pakistan last October continues to be a source of concern. The challenges of responding effectively are still immense.  The Pakistan Government and many organisations continue to work tirelessly in the ongoing recovery operations.

While progress has been great there are still major challenges ahead of the harsh winter– building permanent houses for all of those who lost their homes, re-establishing secure livelihoods for those who lost jobs and protecting vulnerable groups, such as widows, children, the elderly and the disabled. Irish Aid's support is a mark of Ireland's commitment to support the ongoing recovery effort.”

Note to editors:

The Ireland Pakistan Business Council will make special presentations to Minister of State Lenihan and Charlie Bird, Chief News Correspondent, RTE in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the remedial work in response to the Northern Pakistan earthquake of 8th October 2005. Mr. Albert Reynolds, former Taoiseach and Chairman of the Council, and H.E. Ambassador, Toheed Ahmad, Honorary Patron will present the awards.

In the aftermath of the earthquake the Government pledged €10 million for humanitarian relief and recovery assistance. Irish Aid has disbursed €9 million of this funding to UN Agencies, the Red Cross Family and Irish NGOs, such as Concern, Trócaire, GOAL, and Oxfam Ireland.

Minister Lenihan travelled to the affected region of Pakistan last December. He  met with President Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz, as well as the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator for the relief effort, the Red Cross and Irish NGOs working in the region. 

ENDS +++                                                                 

2 November 2006
Press Office