Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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306. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to urgently support the population of Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27523/21]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to begin by welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire which began on 21 May. The humanitarian consequences of the hostilities have been devastating and two million people in the Gaza Strip, who were already suffering extreme hardship, including poverty, food insecurity and the Covid-19 pandemic, are now suffering the consequences of another cycle of violence.

On 19 May, Ireland announced an additional €1.5 million in funding to our UN partners for emergency humanitarian relief in the occupied Palestinian territory. €1 million will be provided to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide emergency food, water and sanitation supplies and health and psychosocial services to the people of Gaza. This will bring 2021 funding to UNRWA to a total of €7 million, following the disbursement of €6 million in March.

In addition, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) will receive €500,000 to support child protection, medical and sanitation services for thousands of children in acute need. This includes emergency psychosocial services to 5,000 children suffering trauma as a result of the hostilities. The plight of children as a consequence of this conflict is shameful and our support for UNICEF seeks to alleviate the brutal situation they are facing.

In addition to this €1.5 million, Ireland is providing €500,000 to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) in the oPt, €300,000 of which is for a Humanitarian Fund used to respond to emergencies. This will bring Ireland’s funding in support of the Palestinian people to more than €16 million in 2021.

I pay tribute to staff from the UN and other humanitarian agencies who are providing support to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip under very difficult circumstances.