John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way the additional €500,000 funding to support humanitarian agencies working in Gaza, recently announced by Irish Aid, will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1912/09]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 755: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made by the EU to assist in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; if Ireland will be contributing financial aid to an agreed EU aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2318/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 769: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the full extent of Irish aid donated to victims of war in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2412/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 755 and 769 together.

Irish Aid's initial emergency contribution of €500,000 to support humanitarian agencies working in Gaza has been provided to the Humanitarian Response Fund, administered by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This Fund was established 15 months ago to deliver a rapid response to urgent needs in the case of an unforeseen emergency in the Palestinian Territories, and was identified as an ideal mechanism to fund emergency assistance in response to the current crisis in Gaza. The Fund is open to UN agencies and to both international and national Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The UN Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Ireland is the seventh largest donor, has also responded rapidly to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a recent announcement of over US$7 million in assistance.

I would note that our emergency contribution of €500,000 is in addition to a comprehensive programme of support to the Palestinian people, which in 2008 totalled €8.6 million — double the amount provided in 2005. This included a contribution of €1.5 million for fuel for Gaza's Power Plant. In addition, €3.8 million was provided in core funding to UNRWA, the UN Agency responsible for the provision of basic services to Palestinian refugees, and which is playing a central role in responding to the humanitarian consequences of the current crisis. In 2008, in recognition of our position as one of its key donors, Ireland was appointed as a member of UNRWA's Advisory Commission, following a Resolution of the UN General Assembly.

The European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) provided €73 million in aid to the Palestinian Territories in 2008, making it one of the world's largest donors of humanitarian aid; 56 per cent of this was spent on relief efforts in Gaza. €10.4 million has been allocated for food, emergency shelter repairs and medical support since just before the outbreak of the recent conflict. In addition the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, undertook a humanitarian mission to Gaza and southern Israel on 25-26 January. A UN inter-agency mission has been undertaken to determine priority humanitarian needs in Gaza following the ceasefire. Ireland, in co-ordination with other EU donors, will consider further support to the people of Gaza on receipt of this needs assessment and following a full determination of funding requirements.