Minister Lenihan announces that Ireland will double its funding to relief and recovery efforts in Pakistan

Today Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Conor Lenihan T.D., as part of a two day visit to Pakistan with the Dutch Minister for Development announced that Ireland would contribute a further EUR 5 million to the relief and recovery efforts following the earthquake disaster in early October. This brings Ireland's total relief and recovery package for the disaster to EUR 10 million.

In a meeting this morning with President Musharaff, Minister Lenihan expressed his deepest sympathies on behalf of Ireland and outlined that EUR 2 million of this new pledge will be committed before Christmas to help with the emergency relief efforts. The remainder will be committed early in the new year to assist in ongoing relief efforts and the start of the recovery process.

Speaking following a series of meetings with the Government, UN Agencies and NGOs, Minister Lenihan said:

“It is clear from my discussions today that this emergency is far from over. The winter is now only beginning. This will bring a whole new set of challenges for people who have already suffered a great deal and it will make relief efforts all the more difficult.”

“I very much hope that Ireland's doubling of funds will send a signal to other donors to honour pledges that have already been made and encourage them to do more. There are still a great many lives at risk.”

Minister Lenihan leaves Pakistan on Sunday evening for Hong Kong where he along with Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan T.D. and Minister for Trade, Michael Ahern T.D., will represent Ireland at next weeks WTO Meeting.

ENDS+++
10th December 2005