Irish Government provides €3 m to assist the Palestinian people
Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., Minister for Overseas Development and Human Rights, today announced a €3m humanitarian and recovery package of assistance for Palestine. Minister Kitt stated that this package of assistance takes into account the ongoing immediate humanitarian needs as well as the longer term needs of the Palestinian people. Assistance amounting to € 1 million has been allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for immediate humanitarian relief activities in response to this current humanitarian crisis. The balance of € 2m will be channeled through the Ministry of Education, UNDP, Bethlehem University and local civil society organisations focusing on the areas of education, health, water, rural development and human rights.
Announcing this decision today, Minister Kitt stated:
“This package of assistance underlines our commitment to the Palestinian people. It addresses the human suffering caused by the current crisis while at the same time enhances the capacity of the Palestinian Authority to meet future needs”.
Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) has provided assistance to Palestine since 1987. The primary focus of this assistance has been, and continues to be, the alleviation of immediate suffering, the provision of essential services in health, education, water and rural development, and enhancing the capacity of the Palestinian Authority to meet the critical needs of its people.
This current package of assistance brings the total amount of Irish Government assistance to Palestine since 2000 to over € 15 m.
Note for editors:
Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) is the overseas development programme of the Irish Government. Details of the programme can be found at: www.dci.gov.ie
The current development cooperation strategy for Palestine will be available on the DCI website next week.
