O’Donnell allocates IR£100,000 for immediate earthquake relief
28/01/1999
Ms. Liz O'Donnell T.D., Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Development Cooperation, today announced an immediate Irish Aid grant of £100,000 to meet emergency humanitarian needs in Colombia following the devastating earthquake in that country.
Minister O'Donnell said “It is now clear that this is a major humanitarian disaster. Pending a further assessment of needs, I am allocating £100,000 emergency assistance to be used by the International Red Cross and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs”.
The Minister said today that the death toll is increasing from initial reports of 700 dead and 2,300 people injured.
Minister O'Donnell said “I will continue to follow the humanitarian situation closely and a further response by Ireland will be considered for the rehabilitation and reconstruction which will be essential in the coming weeks”.
