Minister Lenihan announces over €7 million in aid to war-torn countries
Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Conor Lenihan TD, today announced a total funding package of over €7.2 million in support of humanitarian relief efforts in a number of countries around the world.
Sudan (both Darfur and in the South), Sierra Leone and Liberia are to receive the bulk of this assistance package which is being channelled through a variety of non-governmental and international organisations, including among others; Concern, Trócaire, Medecins Sans Frontier (MSF), UNDP and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
This funding is in addition to the €1 million announced by Minister Dermot Ahern on 2 June for the humanitarian and human rights components of the African Union Mission in Sudan.
In announcing the package Minister Lenihan said:
“The objective of this funding allocation is to save lives, protect vulnerable people and alleviate the suffering of victims of conflict and disaster in some of the world's most troubled countries.”
“Just to give some examples; in Liberia we are funding Concern to meet emergency needs in the water, sanitation, and health sectors and the provision of shelter for over 90,000 people who remain displaced following the long and tragic civil war.”
“In Darfur, Sudan we are funding Oxfam's difficult work in refugee camps in drilling wells, installing latrines, and providing training in public health.”
“And in Sierra Leone we are funding MSF in a health programme that will benefit an estimated 322,000 people with an emphasis on pregnant women and children under five years of age.”
This package follows on from recent pledges made by Ireland at a number of international donor conferences.
Please find full details of the funding package attached.
ENDS+++
5 June 2005
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PACKAGE CONTENTS
May 2005
Concern Emergency Unit €250,000
Liberia Concern Liberia Emergency Programme €398,820 (2005) €400,000 (2006)
Darfur, Sudan Concern Darfur Emergency Programme €625,000 (2005) €625,000 (2006)
South Sudan Concern Nutrition Programme €142,500 (2005) €142,500 (2006)
South Sudan Concern Assistance to Returnees/IDP's in Nuba Mountains and Aweil €60,000 (2005)
€60,000 (2006)
South Sudan Concern Seeds and Tools Programme €66,500
Darfur, Sudan Oxfam Public Health and Recovery €300,000
Mundri, Sudan Oxfam Hygiene Water Sanitation Programme €350,000
Northern Uganda Oxfam IDP's Water/Shelter, Kitgum €150,000
Kenya Oxfam Drought Management Programme, Turkana €150,000
DRC Oxfam Public Health Care, North Kivu €275,000
Darfur, Sudan MSF-UK Basic Health Care/Nutrition €350,000
South Sudan MSF-UK Health Care Project, Kadugli County & Nuba Mts €350,000
Sierra Leone MSF-UK Emergency Health Care, Tonkolili €305,000
West Africa Region Support IRC Health Care Share Experience Programme €45,705
Cote d'Ivoire IRC Primary Health Care €274,687
Liberia IRC €209,938
Sierra Leone IRC €285,670
Sierra Leone Trócaire Renovation of Panguma Hospital, Kenema €151,000
Liberia Merlin Provision of Primary Health Care, Grand Bassa County €150,000
Liberia Merlin Buchanan Hospital €300,000
Liberia The Carter Centre Election Assistance Project €250,000
Sierra Leone Partnership Africa Canada Campaign for Just Mining €100,000
Sierra Leone Save the Children Review of Supplementary Feeding €15,000
Sierra Leone UNDP Decentralisation of Agriculture - Achieving Food Security €500,000
Totals
€6,054,820 (2005) €1,227,500 (2006)
Combined Total: €7,282,320
