Madam, – Ireland has a long tradition of solidarity with the world’s poor people and nations. For reasons of history and morality – as well as enlightened self-interest – we have built up a national aid programme that assists victims of disasters, and helps reduce countries’ vulnerability to future disasters.
And never before was our aid needed so much. Never before have poor people been confronted with a combination of global economic turmoil, food price hikes, and massive natural disasters as witnessed in Haiti, Niger and Pakistan. For the first time in history, one billion people – almost one in six people on the planet – are going hungry every day.
Our aid programme is tangible proof that people in Ireland continue to understand the needs of the world’s poorest communities. Our experience with famine on this island, which at the time was ignored by most of the international community, means that we refuse to remain indifferent in the face of human suffering.
And we come to the aid of people everywhere, regardless of race, religion or status. Our common humanity demands it.
We cannot ignore the plight of the people of Pakistan, a country whose infrastructure has been destroyed and where millions of people have lost their homes and livelihoods. We cannot turn our backs on people in their hour of need. And we cannot row back on our promise to be a caring part of the international community.
We should, we need to and we can provide assistance to the world’s poorest people and countries. And we are proud to do so. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – We all have great sympathy with the plight of the many millions affected by the floods in Pakistan and as usual we the Irish have not been found wanting when it comes to contributing to the disaster fund. I do, however, take exception to the Pakistani government representative based in Geneva condemning the international community for its poor response. Perhaps he could arrange for his government to re-direct some his country’s defence budget which in 2007 amounted to a reported €4.7 billion? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The poor response to the flooding in Pakistan by western leaders is very disappointing.
The UN estimates that almost $500 million worth of aid is needed for Pakistan. The estimated daily budgets for the US and Britain in the Afghan war is respectively, $200 million and the equivalent of $4.3 million. Therefore the cost of two and a half days warring in Afghanistan would solve the UN’s aid requirements in Pakistan.
Surely this would be a just, efficient diversion of a small part of these military budgets, rather than continually wasting them on an alleged enemy, misnamed as “terror”, in a futile and un-winnable war where the main sufferers are civilians and while millions are suffering from a natural disaster in a neighbouring country? Such a gesture might even win some “hearts and minds”. – Yours, etc,