Minister Micheál Martin announces €2m in aid for Gaza
Minister Micheál Martin announces €2m in aid for Gaza
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D., will tomorrow announce new funding of €2 million to support humanitarian assistance, recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.
Minister Martin will be participating in the International Conference on Support for the Palestinian economy and the Reconstruction of Gaza, which is being held in Egypt on 2 March. The conference has been organised by the Governments of Egypt and Norway. Over eighty countries have been invited and the attendance will include President Mubarak of Egypt, President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the UN Secretary General.
Minister Martin said; “This is an extremely important conference which is intended to demonstrate political support for the Palestinian people and to mobilise international support and resources for Gaza. The humanitarian and reconstruction needs are stark in the wake of the recent conflict, and the Government is determined that Ireland will play its part in addressing them.”
“Egypt is continuing to push the intensive diplomatic efforts to put in place a permanent ceasefire in Gaza .This conference must convey a strong political message of support for these efforts. It must also show the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority that the international community will work with them, and support them in rebuilding Gaza, and in rebuilding the broader peace process.”
“At the conference, I will emphasise that all border crossings into Gaza must be opened urgently, and kept open on a sustained basis. Otherwise, it will not be possible to meet the humanitarian and reconstruction needs effectively, in the short term and into the future.”
Commenting on the new Irish Aid assistance, the Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power, T.D., said:
“This substantial package of assistance is to help the Palestinian people recover from the tragedy of the Gaza conflict. In January, we provided €500,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance. We are now announcing a further €1 million for UNRWA, the UN Agency which provides basic services to over 70% of the population of Gaza, and €1 million for the Palestinian Authority in support of recovery and reconstruction activities in Gaza. The funding for the Authority will be channelled through the European Commission’s aid mechanism for Palestine (PEGASE).”
Press Section
Department of Foreign Affairs
1 March 2009
