Written answers

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

8:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress his Department has made, unilaterally and in cooperation with EU States, to supply transport and medical supplies to humanitarian missions to Chad. [30872/07]

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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My colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., has recently returned from a visit to Chad. While there, he was able to observe at first hand the humanitarian situation in the country, and the tremendous difficulties involved in providing essential relief to those in need across the vast expanse of Eastern Chad. During his visit, Minster Ahern pledged an additional €2 million in humanitarian funding for Chad.

His visit confirmed the serious humanitarian and security situation obtaining in that vulnerable region and the valuable role which Ireland, as part of the EUFOR Tchad/RCA mission, can play in helping to address and improve this situation.

Since 2006, Ireland has provided humanitarian funding of over €6 million to United Nations agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working in Chad. These agencies and organisations operate in a wide variety of fields, including medical relief and emergency food supply. Transportation of humanitarian relief is an integral part of many of the projects funded. The European Community's Humanitarian Aid Office has contributed in excess of €20 million towards humanitarian efforts in Chad this year.

As part of Ireland's overall emergency response, my colleague Mr. Trevor Sargent T.D., Minster of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, has provided funding of €2 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Chad. This funding was specifically for the UN Humanitarian Air Service, which provides transportation of food to remote regions.

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