Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ukraine War

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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416. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will contact the Moldovan Government to assess the immediate needs of financial assistance, technical assistance and humanitarian assistance to help Moldova support Ukrainian refugees (details supplied); and if he will ensure that the Irish and EU response to the Ukrainian crisis will include specific supports for the Moldovan people and government in providing such assistance given that they are at the forefront of the humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine. [14626/22]

Photo of Colm BrophyColm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The response of Moldova to this crisis has been very impressive under extremely difficult circumstances.

The €20 million Irish Aid humanitarian package responding to the crisis in Ukraine includes support to Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries, including Moldova. €5 million of the Irish Aid package is allocated to the UNHCR inter-agency Regional Response Plan (RPP) for the Ukraine crisis, which in turn has allocated a fifth of its overall budget to Moldova and where UNHCR has opened an office. €1 million of our contribution is earmarked directly for Moldova.

Ireland is also providing €1.5 million to UNFPA, whose work in Moldova focuses on the protection of women and girls.

Many of Ireland’s humanitarian partners are expanding their activities to help the Moldovan government cope with the influx of refugees. The humanitarian package also includes a €1 million grant to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), which is also supporting the local response via the Moldovan Red Cross.

Ireland has also contributed to the inter-agency Regional Response Plan through Irish Aid core funding to key participating organisations, including UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). We continue to encourage all our humanitarian partners to use their core funding to respond to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis including by supporting neighbouring countries.

The EU has also announced a rapid assistance package of €500 million to help civilians affected by the conflict. This will include support to the inter-agency RRP and additional funding of €5 million to Moldova in the European Commission’s revised Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP). 

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