Ireland 'ready to pledge more for quake relief'
Ireland is ready to pledge more money to victims of the Pakistan earthquake disaster, a Government minister said today.
Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Conor Lenihan told the Dáil that the state’s initial €3m allocation would be increased following current emergency relief efforts.
Mr Lenihan, who has ministerial responsibility for development co-operation and human rights, also appealed to Irish people to give money to aid agencies working in Pakistan and Hurricane Stan-hit regions in Central America.
He told TDs during a 90-minute debate on the issue: “The initial official Irish aid contribution of €3m will be added to once the situation in Pakistan has moved beyond the current need for crisis intervention.
“The sheer enormity of this natural disaster means that there will be a huge need for assistance as people begin to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Ireland will be ready to help.”
Saturday’s quake in Pakistan, northern India and Afghanistan has already killed more than 40,000 people and left up to four million people homeless.
The Dublin TD also said that the current unfolding disaster in Central America was being monitored closely since the state donated €1m in aid to assist relief efforts.
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