HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: O'DONNELL APPROVES IR£3.75 M PACKAGE

Liz O'Donnell T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, announced today a package of Ireland Aid grants totalling IR£3.75 million to meet humanitarian and reconstruction needs around the world. Of this amount, IR£1 million is being focussed on the famine stricken Horn of Africa.

"Some of the areas worst affected by the drought in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya and Somalia will receive emergency assistance for feeding and health programmes," the Minister said.

The Minister also drew attention to the situation in several other countries where the need for humanitarian assistance is acute.

"Ireland Aid continues to focus its support on those most in need. The media has played an important role in bringing the attention of the public to the plight of those suffering in the Horn of Africa and it is the Government's responsibility to ensure that funding continues to be provided for less well publicised crises. Assistance to countries such as Sudan, Iraq, Mongolia and Angola is helping people rebuild their lives and overcome the difficult humanitarian circumstances in which they find themselves", she said.

Support is being provided to people suffering the effects of conflict, whether recently ended or ongoing, in countries such as Sierra Leone, Lebanon and East and West Timor. The government is also continuing to support ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation commitments in Bosnia, Honduras and Rwanda. Other grants include funding for de-mining in Cambodia and humanitarian assistance to victims of the recent floods in Mozambique and Madagascar.Top