Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken in responding to the UN's appeal for humanitarian aid for more than 1.5 million people being displaced by fighting in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21864/09]

Peter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Since August 2008, conflict between militants and government troops in parts of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has led to over half a million people being displaced. Over the last two weeks, an additional 1.1 million people have been displaced from a number of districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) as a result of increased fighting between the Pakistan Army and militants. The total number of registered Internally Displaced People (IDPs) is now estimated by local authorities to be 2 million, out of which an estimated 65% are children. Thankfully the vast majority of these people are staying with relatives and friends and have not been obliged to live in camps.

I am very concerned about the welfare of the people who have been displaced and my Department is currently examining the UN Flash appeal for humanitarian assistance. We are also in discussions with a number of our established NGO partners. The outcome of this examination and of our on-going discussions will determine our response to this humanitarian crisis.

In the meantime, an immediate response has been provided by the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) which has released more than US$8.3 million so far this year. Ireland is the 7th largest donor to the CERF. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully and will make a decision on any further assistance based on the needs of the Pakistani people as well as our ability to make an effective intervention.