€2 Million Emergency Humanitarian Assistance for Liberia

Ireland's contribution will focus on the estimated 450,000 people who have been displaced by conflict in Liberia. Funding will be allocated from Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) to Irish NGOs and international relief agencies to provide food, health and basic sanitation needs for those worst affected by the conflict.

The Government's humanitarian package includes support of €500,000 for the UN's revised humanitarian appeal for Liberia, launched earlier this week. Support of €250,000 for the Red Cross is also included. The remaining €1.25 million is being disbursed to Irish and international NGOs best placed to rapidly mobilise humanitarian aid. In January 2003, DCI disbursed a separate allocation of €500,000 for the UN in Liberia (World Food Programme and UNICEF), bringing to €2.5 million Ireland's humanitarian aid to the country to date this year.

Announcing this decision, Minister Kitt said:

“The volatile security situation on the ground is continuing to hamper the work of relief agencies. We are working closely with our Irish NGO partners to ensure that our assistance is delivered to the most vulnerable in Liberia as soon as the security situation allows. I welcome the recent deployment of the multinational force to Liberia and the ongoing efforts to create a safe and stable environment for the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid.

I believe the UN has a central role to play in the humanitarian response to this crisis and we are providing the necessary resources for this role. We will continue to work closely with our donor partners in the UN and the EU to ensure maximum coordination and coherence in the international response to the crisis in Liberia.”

Note for Editors:

Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) is the Government of Ireland's programme of assistance to developing countries. Further details on the programme are available at www.dci.gov.ie

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