Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

Humanitarian Assistance

8:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts, in view of the large number of fatalities following the tragic floods in Tabasco State in Mexico, which have been made by the international community in order to help the stricken and displaced following this disaster; and the contribution Ireland has made to this process. [30882/07]

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I was shocked by the severity of the floods experienced in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas in the aftermath of Hurricane Noel. These were the worst floods suffered in the southern Mexico region for 50 years. As much as 80% of the state of Tabasco was under water, while it is estimated that as many as 900,000 people were made homeless.

The response by the international community to the disaster has involved relief assistance on the ground by UN agencies, international organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in support of Mexican Government authorities. Many countries, including Ireland, have provided funding to facilitate this assistance. Hurricane Noel also provoked considerable damage and flooding in other countries throughout the Caribbean and Central America.

On 6 November, I announced emergency funding of €1 million to assist international efforts to provide shelter and relief to those who had been worst affected by the flooding. This funding is being delivered via our key partners: the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

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