THE MINISTER for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin will today announce new funding of €2 million to support humanitarian assistance, recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.
Mr 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 today.
The conference has been organised by the Governments of Egypt and Norway.
Over 80 countries have been invited and the attendance will include Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
Mr 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,” he said.
“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 the Minister plans to emphasise that all border crossings into Gaza must be opened, and kept open on a sustained basis in order to meet humanitarian needs.
In January, the Irish Government provided €500,000 in immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.