Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 90: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency funding shortfall; its effects on the agency's works in Gaza and the urgent need for sufficient funding to be made available to the agency next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30734/11]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is the UN agency which has responsibility for the provision of assistance and services to five million Palestinian refugees in five areas of operation, the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The agency manages a budget of €450 million annually to deliver the range of assistance and services to its target population. These include basic education, health services, community employment schemes and food aid for vulnerable families.

Ireland has been, and continues to be, a strong supporter of UNRWA and its vital work. In the past five years, funding of €21.2 million has been provided by Ireland to assist UNRWA in helping vulnerable Palestinians. In 2011 alone, funding of €4 million in core programme support has been provided by Ireland to UNRWA.

It has come to my attention in recent weeks that UNRWA's funding situation in Gaza at this point in 2011 is in serious crisis. A number of activities including job creation, agriculture and fisheries programmes have already been cut back significantly and, in some cases, ceased in June. Of particular concern to me is a funding gap of more than €12 million in the food aid programme which, if not met by donors in the coming weeks, will see the food aid supply to vulnerable refugees in Gaza, including children, breaking down. If this happens, 600,000 refugees will no longer receive vital food rations and 200,000 schoolchildren will no longer receive school feeding supplements. In response to UNRWA's urgent request for further assistance, I have now approved further emergency funding of €500,000 to be delivered to the agency at the earliest opportunity.

It is my earnest hope that other governments will respond with similar speed and flexibility in response to this urgent situation. It is vital that the supply of essential humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian refugee population in Gaza is not interrupted over the coming period.