Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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110. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to ensure the Gaza reconstruction mechanism will support the rebuilding of Gaza following the recent conflict instead of acting as a block to rebuilding as has been the case to date according to local NGOs. [33873/21]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned at the plight of the people of Gaza. Recent hostilities have caused severe damage to infrastructure and the humanitarian consequences have been devastating for a community already enduring both a blockade and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local authorities, more than 2000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and essential services, including water, sanitation and health systems, adversely affected. 

In light of this situation, on 19 May my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD announced that Ireland would provide €1.5 million in emergency humanitarian support for the occupied Palestinian territory. This includes €500,000 to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for the provision of medical and sanitation services to thousands of children in acute need, and €1 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for emergency food, water and sanitation supplies. Ireland is also addressing a critical infrastructure gap by funding the development of a solar energy plant which will power the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment Plant, reducing the strain on Gaza’s electricity grid.

The rebuilding of Gaza and restoration of essential infrastructure such as water, sewage and electricity will require an integrated approach, which will include determining the part which the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism will play into the future. A Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment is presently being carried out by the United Nations, European Union and World Bank.  Decisions on further Irish Aid support for reconstruction, including the use of new or established mechanisms, will be influenced by the outcome of that study.  Irish officials continue to be engaged on this issue on the ground.

However, the roots of the problems in Gaza are political and cannot be solved by funding alone. Ireland has consistently called for the lifting of the blockade so that normal life and normal economic activity can resume. We will continue to make every effort to ensure that the situation in Gaza remains high on the international agenda.