Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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38. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to support displaced Palestinian persons and released detainees to return to their homes; the supports being offered to those whose homes have been destroyed, given that 463,000 or 92% of housing units in the territory have been destroyed or severely/partially damaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3079/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3083/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.

The Government has welcomed the long-awaited agreement on a hostage release and ceasefire deal for Gaza. This has led to an immediate increase in the volume of critically needed humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.

However, the scale of need remains enormous and the level of destruction from the conflict is so severe that the majority of people in Gaza require significant assistance in multiple areas. These include shelter, health, food security, access to water and psychosocial support. There are also thousands of people who require assistance in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Many aid agencies are currently increasing their immediate assistance and beginning the process of planning longer term interventions. The UN has set out its Flash Appeal for Palestine 2025, estimating that at least $6.6 billion is required to address just the humanitarian needs of 3.3 million people across Palestine. The Appeal includes provision for emergency shelter assistance to the 1.9 million people displaced and at risk of exposure. In terms of longer-term planning, a joint UN/World Bank/EU Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment is in process while a recovery plan and reconstruction strategy will also be developed.

Ireland has provided over €62 million in support of the Palestinian people since the beginning of 2023. Of this, more than €50 million has been provided in assistance since October 2023. This includes €38 million in core support to UNRWA, as well as the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme and others. Ireland’s support also includes the recent arrival in Ireland of 8 patients as part of a medical evacuation and delivery of over 116 tonnes of relief supplies through Ireland’s rapid response initiative.

UNRWA has a mandate from the UN General Assembly and its work is essential and irreplaceable for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region, and particularly in the current context in Gaza and the West Bank. The legislation adopted by the Knesset in 2024 may make it impossible for UNRWA to carry out its work. At present, there is no realistic alternative to UNRWA. We urge the Israeli authorities to repeal measures taken against the Agency.

The capacity to address the enormous needs in Gaza is, of course, dependent on a continued, sustained ceasefire. We urge all concerned to ensure that the ceasefire deal is fully implemented, in all its phases, and that it leads to a political process which gives hope for long term peace based on a two-State solution.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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40. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for an update on the humanitarian situation in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3084/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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We remain very concerned about the fragile security situation in southern Lebanon. Humanitarian needs remain are particularly high, and all parties need to meet their commitments under the extended ceasefire agreement.

The UN estimates that over 800,000 people who were internally displaced in Lebanon during the 14-month conflict have now returned to their home places, while over 100,000 people remain displaced. However, people returning home, those unable to return, and other communities affected by the hostilities are facing multiple challenges including widespread destruction of property and critical infrastructure, disruption in essential services, and risks from explosive ordnance left behind after the fighting. Key humanitarian needs include basic assistance, shelter, food, water storage solutions, and access to health services.

Even before the conflict, Lebanon was coping with widespread poverty, economic collapse, and the impact of the Syria crisis. It was already hosting an estimated 1.5 million refugees from Syria, the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometre in the world. The fall of Assad regime has seen some refugees return to Syria but numbers of returnees remain low.

Ireland provided a total of €10 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon in 2024. including €5 million pledged at the Paris Conference for Lebanon in October 2024. Our humanitarian assistance, channelled through a number of trusted partners including the UN OCHA Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, UNHCR, the World Health Organisation, Education Cannot Wait and Irish NGOs, has provided critical support to the most vulnerable people and as well as emergency funding to support badly damaged health and education systems.

We welcome recent positive steps towards the formation of a new government which can carry out the necessary reform, recovery and reconstruction of Lebanon. We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance as necessary to support people in need in Lebanon in 2025.