Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

175. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline Ireland’s response to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16505/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday 28 March caused widespread loss of life and destruction. Some 3,000 people have so far been reported killed, and the humanitarian impact continues to grow. The Government announced an immediate package of €6 million in response to the impact of the earthquake and to support people in Myanmar already suffering huge levels of humanitarian need as a result of conflict, displacement and climate vulnerability.

€3 million of this funding is being provided to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) who provide support to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS), one of the first responders in the affected areas. The MRCS is providing urgent emergency support including shelter, basic supplies and food and has been assisting in the search and recovery effort.

Funding has also been provided to respond to increased levels of humanitarian need in Myanmar, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis driven by the ongoing civil war. This includes €1.5 million to the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund, managed by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) who support humanitarian organisations across Myanmar, and €1.5 million to the UN Refugee (UNHCR) Joint Response Plan responding already to the urgent needs of displaced Rohingya people.

Ireland provides annual core funding of €2.4 million to the IFRC including prepositioned funding to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). The DREF provides funds for urgent responses and was able to release immediate funding in the hours after the earthquake struck. Ireland is also the 9th largest donor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the world’s largest humanitarian fund which has already provided €5 million in assistance following the earthquake.

A number of Irish NGOs which receive annual funding from Irish Aid are also on the ground in Myanmar. In addition, one of Ireland's Rapid Response Roster members has been deployed to join an initial UN Disaster Assessment Committee team in Myanmar. We will continue to assess the situation as it unfolds and continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.