Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the communications he has had with Burma in the wake of the tsunami disaster and on the known impact of the people of Burma. [1556/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wrote to the Foreign Minister of Burma, Major General Nyan Win, on 7 January 2005, to convey the Government's sympathy for the loss of life sustained in Burma as a result of the tsunami. In my letter, I also outlined the efforts we had been making at the EU and UN levels, and with international agencies and non-governmental organisations, to ensure that assistance is provided to those most in need in the Asia region. I informed the Minister that the effective co-ordination of aid efforts was due to be discussed that day at an extraordinary meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council. In my letter, I strongly encouraged the Burmese Government to co-operate with international aid organisations which are ready and willing to assist that country, and its people, in alleviating any suffering the disaster may have caused.

There have been conflicting reports as to the exact impact of the tsunami on Burma. On 5 January 2005, the Burmese Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement said that 64 people had been in killed in Burma as a result of the tsunami. According to his report, 29 villages were destroyed, leaving an estimated 3,500 people homeless.

On 6 January 2005, the Tsunami Assistance Co-ordination Group met in Burma to consolidate the findings of the different assessment and verification missions undertaken throughout the affected areas of Burma. The co-ordination group was set up at the onset of the disaster. It comprises a number of international NGOs and is chaired by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, FRC. The group concluded that Burma has been largely spared from the destructive forces of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami and that the initial emergency needs have been met by the Government and by the aid community. The group's assessment of the scale of impact is in line with the findings of the Burmese authorities. The group confirmed a death toll of 60 to 80 and estimated the longer-term population affected is around 10,000 to 15,000, of whom 5,000 to 7,000 are directly affected. Reports indicate that the wave force which reached the coast of Burma was reduced in comparison to that which struck neighbouring countries. The particular topography of the southern and delta coastlines, as well as the rocky nature of the islands, appears to have provided physical protection for the population. Satellite photographs indicate that there was relatively little structural damage.

Ireland, along with its EU partners, will continue to monitor the situation in Burma and to encourage the Burmese government to accept all assistance necessary to alleviate any suffering caused by the tsunami.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the EU Minister's discussions on tsunami relief. [1558/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Together with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I attended the extraordinary meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean which was held on 7 January 2005.

The Council adopted conclusions which stressed the unprecedented nature of the disaster, the need for ongoing action, initiatives in the field of humanitarian assistance and aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction, risk prevention, the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention and further support measures.

The Council expressed its sympathy for the populations affected by the earthquake and the tsunami in Asia and the Indian Ocean. It restated the EU's solidarity in support of the states and peoples concerned and mourned the high number of victims of the disaster. The Council welcomed the immense generosity and solidarity shown by European citizens and civil society following the disaster. It recommended that aid should go to the most affected regions and the people in greatest need, especially children. The Council emphasised the responsibility of the national and regional authorities of the countries concerned with regard to the identification of needs as well as the management and distribution of aid. It pointed to the United Nations' central role in the co-ordination and management of assistance to victims and stressed the particular importance of cooperation with the OCHA, United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Council expressed its gratitude to ASEAN for its rapid action in calling a special extended summit in Jakarta, in which the EU participated at the highest level, and welcomed the meeting's final declaration. The Council pointed to the efforts already deployed by the EU and its member states in the humanitarian, financial and logistical field, as well as the various mechanisms put in place to co-ordinate the Union's work, in particular the co-ordination of humanitarian aid, the European Community's civil protection mechanism and consular co-operation. It emphasised the challenges of co-ordination on the ground and the importance of surmounting administrative obstacles, particularly those faced by NGOs.

The Council stressed the vital importance of an efficient transition from the humanitarian phase, through the intermediate rehabilitation phase, to the longer-term reconstruction phase. It emphasised that reconstruction efforts must be based on the national priorities of the countries concerned and must respect the principle of ownership. The Council emphasised that, in the field of health, it was essential to anticipate the known risk of epidemic in order to prevent further loss of life by supplying basic foodstuffs, drinking water, medicines and vaccines. The Council recalled that the humanitarian aid response of the EU and its member states and the initial forecasts for rehabilitation and reconstruction stood at over €1.5 billion in official aid on 7 January 2005. The Commission and the European Investment Bank were encouraged to continue preparatory work on the setting up of a concessional finance facility, the Indian Ocean tsunami facility, of up to €1 billion.

The Council urged the Commission to submit proposals for a strategy to strengthen measures on prevention, early warning and readiness for disasters, the need for which had been shown by recent events. The Council adopted an EU position for the Kobe World Conference on Disaster Reduction and supported Germany's initiative of organising an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations later this year.

The Council undertook to examine also all possible ways of improving the European Community's civil protection and humanitarian aid mechanism, including analytical capacity, while taking account of the principles and specific nature of humanitarian aid. It emphasised the need to strengthen the role of the UN in the humanitarian response and for the EU to contribute to it. The Council also asked the appropriate bodies to begin to assess the setting up of a European voluntary humanitarian aid corps.

The Union decided to examine additional ways of assisting citizens, in particular by co-ordinating the actions of member states in fields such as relief, evacuation, shipment of foodstuffs and the provision of medical care. The Council stated that it believed that it was particularly important to enhance swiftly the efficiency of consular co-operation between member states.

The Council was also willing to examine other support measures such as trade support measures, and also various types of bilateral partnerships. In this context, it urged the competent authorities to set up twinning relationships between regions, towns and public and private establishments such as hospitals and schools.

Finally, the Council noted member states' intentions to reschedule debt-servicing for the countries affected, particularly through a moratorium on the debts of countries wishing to enter discussions to that end with the Paris Club.

At its meeting on 31 January 2005, the Council will return to measures envisaged by the European Union and its member states for the medium and long-term with a view to formulating a European Union operation action plan.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations made to the Indian Government regarding the status of the indigenous populations of the Andaman and Nicobar islands following the tsunami. [1561/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are union territory of India and lie far out in the Bay of Bengal. The islands, which suffered particularly badly from the impact of the tsunami, are populated by a number of indigenous groups, and are difficult to access.

According to the latest estimates, the death toll in India is 10,749. The total number of missing persons is reported to be 5,640, of whom 5,554 are said to be from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and are feared dead. Katchal Island alone, which is located in the Nicobar Islands, is reported to account for 4,310 of that figure.

As regards outside assistance, India said from the outset that, given the enormous damage suffered by neighbouring countries and Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia in particular, the international assistance effort, in which India has played a considerable part, would be better directed at those countries which needed assistance most. The Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, indicated early on that India has adequate resources itself to meet the challenges.

EU heads of mission, HOMs, in New Delhi are reporting regularly on the situation in India, including the situation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. On 20 January 2005, at the latest briefing by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, HOMs were briefed on the ongoing search, evacuation and relief efforts.

As regards the particular situation in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, it was reported that the situation is stabilising rapidly in various islands in the Andaman district. Local administration in the Islands is reported to have resumed normal functioning as of last week. Procurement of essential items for relief camps is being made locally. Provision shops and schools have started reopening in the capital, Port Blair. Relief camps are continuing to operate and people are being provided with cooked food. Sufficient food, water and medicines are being provided and medical teams are deployed in relief camps. Temporary shelters are being provided and central Government in India is continuing to provide assistance.

Some tribes, including the Nicobaris, Sentinelese and Shompen were badly hit by the tsunami. Precise figures on how many members of the tribes lost their lives are still being established. On 14 January 2005, the Indian Tribal Affairs Minster, Mr. P. R . Kyndiah, was reported to say that "all tribes including Onggei, Sentinel and Jarwa in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are safe. There is no question of extinction of any tribe". At the request of Ireland, and other EU partners, EU HOMs in Delhi will continue to monitor developments and report regularly on the situation.