Seanad debates

Friday, 21 March 2003

The war is in progress, which is a reality. It is also a reality that there will be great suffering by the vulnerable in Iraq. I hope this can be minimised and I join with those who called for the parties to the conflict to observe humanitarian law. I have a responsibility, as Minister of State with responsibility for development, to ameliorate the suffering of those most affected by the conflict and I will be working with NGOs which have a proven capacity to deliver essential services on the ground to those most in need. In that context, I will meet with NGOs next Tuesday and we will continue to work with UN agencies like UNICEF, the UNHCR and the World Food Programme which have a significant capacity to assist women, children, the displaced and the elderly.

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