Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has provided €10 million in emergency assistance for the victims of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. This package of support includes over 130 tonnes of emergency supplies of tents, thermal blankets, solar lamps, hygiene kits, kitchen sets and water jerry cans, worth almost €1 million. This shipment did not include medical supplies.

The response from Ireland in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes focused on critical lifesaving needs including medical care delivered by partners already on the ground, who are equipped to provide such care immediately.

One of the agencies directly supported by Ireland to deliver emergency assistance is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is a member of the International Alliance for Diabetes Action and a signatory of the Boston Declaration on Diabetes Care in Humanitarian Emergencies. They are committed to improving the delivery of diabetes care to save lives, reduce suffering, promote dignity, reduce disability, and strengthen resilience.

Ireland also provides core funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) which are supporting people on the ground in Türkiye and Syria. Both are members of the International Alliance for Diabetes Action. The WHO Emergencies Programme provides rapid response in health emergencies. One of its core responsibilities is to provide medical supplies, and insulin is part of the essential medicines list.

We also provided funding to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Türkiye, which supports the Turkish Red Crescent in deploying their medical response units and mobile units countrywide. These are responsible for the provision of medical supplies and equipment and have experience in the treatment of non-communicable diseases including diabetes.