Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of humanitarian aid being provided by Ireland to aid the people in Iraq for 2007; the projected level of aid for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18690/07]

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the humanitarian situation in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18694/07]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 171 together.

The humanitarian situation in Iraq has continued to deteriorate with up to 2 million internally-displaced persons within Iraq and some 2 million seeking refuge outside the country, mostly in Syria and Jordan. Provision of basic services and people's access to services are being severely affected by the current conflict. Access to water and sanitation is limited and many are dependent on food aid. Mortality rates have increased due to the surge in violence but also due to lack of access to adequate health services. Significant numbers of the displaced people are women and children whose husbands or fathers had been killed in the conflict. They are a particularly vulnerable group.

The Government is committed to assisting the vulnerable population in Iraq. Between 2003 and 2006, Ireland made available €7.9 million in emergency and recovery assistance for Iraq. In January of this year, we made an additional pledge of €3 million of which €1.5 million has already been disbursed.

Our assistance is being targeted at agencies working with the growing number of families who have been forced by the violence to flee their homes. Irish Aid has supported the work of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees and the Red Cross in the provision of services to those who have been displaced.

We will continue to play our part in alleviating the suffering of the Iraqi people through trusted partner agencies including the UN, the Red Cross family and Non Government Organisations (NGOs).