O'Donnell approves initial IR£400,000 package of Emergency Aid for victims of El Salvador Earthquake
Ms. Liz O'Donnell T.D. , Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Overseas Development Assistance and Human Rights, today announced an emergency assistance package totaling IR£400,000 as an immediate response to an earthquake in El Salvador.
The Minister said : "This aid is intended to have immediate impact by supporting the emergency agencies already active on the ground. Although the full extent of the earthquake's impact is not yet known, it is clear that we must respond rapidly to needs of the people of El Salvador. The aid announced today will support the search and rescue effort. It will also provide basic shelter, food and medicines to the earthquake's victims. I have written to the Foreign Minister, whom I met last year in Dublin, to express condolences and solidarity. Ireland will help also in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the post emergency phase".
Following the earthquake that hit the Central American coast and in particular El Salvador on Saturday, the President of El Salvador has declared a National State of Emergency and the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre has been activated.
Of the IR£400,000 aid package announced today, a grant of IR£200,000 will be made to the International Federation of the Red Cross which is supporting the search and rescue effort, providing emergency shelter materials and food. The remaining IR£200,000 is being made available for other emergency efforts - Ireland Aid is already in discussions with Irish aid agencies who are actively responding to the emergency.
Note: A number of organisations including Trocaire, GOAL, Concern, APSO and the United Nations Organisations such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF are operational in the region.Top
