Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he is taking to respond to the developing tragedy in Pakistan following the recent earthquake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34801/05]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The disaster in Pakistan is, logistically, one of the toughest challenges ever faced by the UN and the international community. Some 15,000 villages were affected by the earthquake and many are in areas difficult to reach. The majority of these villages have yet to be visited by a relief team. The relief effort has been adversely affected by the shortfall in donations to the UN appeal. The race against the onset of winter is ongoing and deep concerns remain about the potential for further casualties among the population living above the snow line, calculated to be over 200,000 people.

As Minister with responsibility for development co-operation and human rights, I have remained in contact with the ambassador of Pakistan to Ireland, His Excellency Mr. Toheed Ahmad, in the weeks following the disaster. I have also been in close contact with our key non-governmental organisations and with the Pakistani community in Ireland, which has responded with enormous generosity to this appalling tragedy.

Ireland was among the first countries to respond to the earthquake. Within a few hours of the earthquake €1 million was pledged towards immediate relief efforts in northern Pakistan and the surrounding regions. As the casualty figures rose dramatically, our response was increased to €5 million, placing Ireland as one of the highest donors to the disaster on a per capita basis. Approximately €1.5 million of our assistance has been allocated to key UN humanitarian agencies, including UNICEF and the World Food Programme. Over €2.5 million has been allocated to non-governmental organisations, such as Concern, GOAL, Oxfam, Plan Ireland and Trócaire, which are active in the provision of essential services on the ground. These services include the provision of food, health services, shelter, water and sanitation.

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs remain in close contact with the Government of Pakistan through its embassy in Dublin, with our missions abroad and with UN agencies, the International Red Cross movement and non-governmental organisations. Moreover, a team of my officials is in Pakistan to assess the situation there and, in particular, as it relates to the work which we are funding.

The former Taoiseach, Mr. Albert Reynolds, has agreed to travel to Pakistan this week to lead Ireland's delegation to the rehabilitation and reconstruction conference, which is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on 19 November. Mr. Reynolds will report back to me with his findings and recommendations. I will travel to the region next month as part of a joint visit with my Dutch opposite number, the Minister for Development Co-operation, mevrouw Agnes Van Ardenne. My visit will assess progress at that point in the relief effort and identify outstanding needs in the recovery phase.