Minister of State for Overseas Development commends the public’s generosity in response to Haiti disaster during Dáil debate
An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha Preas Ráiteas
Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release
Preas Oifig, Teach Uibh Eachach, Faiche Stiabhna, Baile Átha Cliath 2
Press Office, Iveagh House, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.
Tel: 353 -1- 478 0822 Fax: 353 -1- 478 5942 / 475 7476
Idirlíon/Internet: www.dfa.ie Ríomh Phost/E-mail: press.office@dfa.ie
Minister of State for Overseas Development commends the public’s generosity in response to Haiti disaster during Dáil debate
Dáil schedule amended for statements on Haiti disaster
Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power, T.D., today paid tribute to the extraordinary generosity of the public in their response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
Addressing the Dáil on Ireland’s response to the disaster, Minister Power said:
“The Irish people have demonstrated an extraordinary level of generosity in supporting appeals from NGOs and UN agencies over the past few days. Millions of euros have been donated at a time when many people are feeling the effects of the recession, have lost their jobs or seen their salaries reduced.
This level of generosity towards and solidarity with the people of Haiti is something of which all of us in Ireland can be proud. My own office has received many calls from members of the public asking how they can help.
I commend each and every member of the public who has contributed. Their support will mean the difference between life and death for many of those suffering the effects of this disaster.”
Minister Power outlined the Government’s “swift and decisive” response and said that the total value of the aid already pledged by Government was almost €3 million.
“Within hours of the earthquake, Irish Aid was in contact with NGOs such as Concern and Goal to make emergency funding available. By lunchtime on the 14th we had pledged €2m to support the initial emergency relief effort.
“Of this €300,000 each was immediately paid out to the World Food Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which is coordinating the international relief effort. A further €250,000 was paid out to the Red Cross and the remainder of this funding is being channelled through NGOs such as Concern and Goal.
Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas aid programme, has freighted 84 tonnes, or 16 lorry-loads of emergency equipment to Haiti. These were transported by air to Santo Domingo from our emergency stockpiles and then by road to Port au Prince, where they arrived last night.
Included in the shipment are plastic sheeting for emergency shelters, blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans and large containers for water storage. In total, we have provided enough supplies to shelter up to 8000 families and to provide them with the water and the basic infra-structure needed for survival. The supplies will be distributed by the Concern and Goal operations in Haiti.
Three members of the Irish Aid Rapid Response Corps have deployed to Haiti. These are an electrical engineer and an IT expert who have been assigned to the World Food Programme, and a security consultant who will work with Goal. Other Corps members with specialised skills in engineering, logistics and water and sanitation are expected to be called upon in the coming days and weeks.
I have also dispatched an Irish Aid technical mission to Haiti to assess how Ireland can best contribute to the international relief effort and to make recommendations as to how we should direct our funding.
The total value of the Irish Government response, both financially and in kind, is nearly €3 million and there is every possibility that this figure will increase further once we have a clearer and more comprehensive picture of Haiti’s needs.
This figure is in addition to our ongoing contributions to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund which was established following the 2004 Tsunami to provide the UN with a ready pool of emergency funding for crises such as that in Haiti.”
Minister Power extended the Government’s sincere condolences to the people of Haiti; to the family of Andrew Grene who lost his life while serving with the UN; to Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, and to the families of all his staff who lost their lives in the earthquake.
“The Haiti earthquake is a disaster which has shocked the entire world with its scale and intensity. The impact on an already vulnerable nation has been catastrophic and it will take many years for Haiti to rebuild itself.
Ireland’s response, whether through the provision of much-needed funds; through our emergency supplies or our highly-skilled personnel has undoubtedly saved many lives and will continue to do so in the weeks and months to come.
That said, it is inevitable that Haiti will continue to require the support of Ireland and the broader international community into the longer term as it rebuilds and slowly makes the transition from relief to development.
The challenge for us, and for the rest of the world will be to stand with the Haitian people during that difficult transition, as they reconstruct their shattered lives and country. I am confident that we will not be found wanting,” Minister Power said.
Note for Editors
- Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power addressed the Dáil on Ireland’s response to Haiti at 11.15am today, January 21
- Irish Aid maintains the Rapid Response Corps, a register of highly-skilled individuals who are willing to be deployed at short notice to assist in an emergency relief effort. To date there have been 65 deployments to over 20 countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, DRC, Zimbabwe, Colombia and now Haiti.
- Ireland's contributed €20 million to the United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in 2009 and a total of €73 million since it was set up in 2006 following the Asian Tsunami. The CERF provides immediately-accessible funds to the UN for use in a crisis such as that in Haiti. Ireland is the seventh largest donor to this fund.
- In addition, Ireland is providing €2 million which is being channelled directly through Irish NGOs, UN humanitarian agencies and the Red Cross. A Government-supplied consignment of emergency humanitarian aid arrived in Port-au-Prince last night and is being distributed by Concern and Goal today.
For further information, please contact Fionnuala Quinlan, press officer, Irish Aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs on 01-4082653 or 087-9099975. To see the full text of the speech or for further information on the Government’s overseas aid programme, visit www.irishaid.gov.ie
Ends+++
21 January 2010
Press Office
Top
