GOVERNMENT PLEDGES ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF BESLAN TRAGEDY

Announcing the assistance the Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, Tom Kitt T.D. stated:

“The Government and people of Ireland have been shocked and saddened by the horrific events in Beslan. We have all been profoundly affected by the loss of so many innocent children and all who lost their lives in this tragedy. We wish to assist the families of the victims and the survivors concerned. The Red Cross has been directly involved in providing such assistance. The Government’s funding is being pledged to the IFRC to enable the organisation to best respond to the immediate needs of the families at this most difficult time. Support will include assistance towards the provision of trauma counselling.”

Note for Editors:
Funding in response to the tragedy is being disbursed from the emergency humanitarian assistance budget of Development Cooperation Ireland, the official assistance programme of the Government. Funding is being channelled to the International Federation of the Red Cross (via the Russian National Red Cross). Development Cooperation Ireland has an ongoing partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross aimed at building the capacities of local Red Cross Societies to respond effectively at local level to emergencies.

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