Govt pledges €2m to Gaza

The Government today pledged to donate €2m in humanitarian aid to Gaza and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said the cash injection will fund assistance, recovery and reconstruction in the conflict-hit region.

Minister Martin is due to attend high-level reconstruction conference on Gaza in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt tomorrow.

Over 80 countries have been invited to the summit, which has been organised by the governments of Egypt and Norway.

Others in attendance 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 the conference will show political support for the Palestinian people and will 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,” said Mr Martin.

“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.”

Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, said the 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,” said Mr Power.

“We are now announcing a further €1m for UNRWA, the UN Agency which provides basic services to over 70% of the population of Gaza, and €1m for the Palestinian Authority in support of recovery and reconstruction activities in Gaza.”