Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the situation in Nepal; if he has concerns about recent reports of food and energy shortages; the action he can take regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10328/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 50% of the population living on less that US$1 a day and one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates. Nepal is also prone to disasters, which are likely to become more frequent in the future due to climate change. Last year, floods and landslides affected over 60% of the country and displaced more than 70,000 people. Ireland responded rapidly and effectively. Funding of approximately €137,000 was provided to Plan Ireland to address the urgent needs of families affected by the flooding. Activities included the provision of food supplies, medicine, shelter and education materials. Additionally, the UN also provided an immediate response to the flood crisis with a grant of US$1 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Ireland, which contributed €20 million to the CERF in 2007, is the 6th largest contributor to that Fund.

Since 1992, Nepal has been host to refugees from Bhutan. The World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing basic food rations to these refugees who are housed in seven camps in Nepal and who are completely dependent on humanitarian aid for their basic needs. Last year, as well as our general support to the WFP of €10.5 million, provided by way of the vote of the Department of Agriculture, Irish Aid provided an additional €250,000 in specific support for the WFP's programme in Nepal. Ireland has also responded to the humanitarian situation in Nepal by way of the recently- established Rapid Response Corps. In January of this year, a member of the Rapid Response Corps was deployed to Nepal where she is currently working with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as a Humanitarian Affairs Officer, dealing specifically with the humanitarian issues facing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nepal.