Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ukraine War

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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423. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide humanitarian relief and assistance to help with the refugee crisis in Moldova following the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14740/22]

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 includes to 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 €1.5million to UNFPA, whose work in Moldova focuses on the protection of women and girls in very difficult circumstances.

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 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). 

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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424. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to or if he will propose to an organisation (details supplied) that ride-on ride-off ferries currently located in the Black Sea could be converted or seconded to help evacuate civilians and wounded by sea from Mariupol which according to reports is running out of food and water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/22]

Photo of Colm BrophyColm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, including in Mariupol where civilians are under siege and supplies are running out.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a long and trusted humanitarian partner of Ireland and will receive €5 million as part of the announced €20 million Irish humanitarian aid package to support Ukrainians in-country and in refugee host countries. Irish Aid also provided €10 million in annual core funding to the ICRC last month. My officials are in regular contact with the ICRC, which has an established presence in Ukraine, including in Mariupol, providing life-saving assistance to people on the ground, including civilians seeking safe passage out of the city. As an impartial, independent and neutral organisation, the ICRC engages in dialogue with all parties to conflict and is therefore well-placed to facilitate the evacuation for civilians and wounded, once it is safe to do so.

Ireland is advocating and coordinating at the EU and UN level for safe passage and humanitarian access to be ensured. Satisfactory security guarantees and concrete and specific agreements need to be arranged and implemented if genuine humanitarian corridors are to function effectively, including evacuation of civilians from Mariupol.

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