Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
389. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the supports that Ireland will provide to the Moldovan Government to help it with supporting refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14255/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMoldova's response to the crisis has been very impressive under extremely difficult circumstances.
The €20 million Irish Aid humanitarian package responding to the Ukraine crisis includes to support to Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries, including Moldova. €5 million of the Irish Aid package is allocated to the UNHCR inter-agency Regional Response Plan (RPP) for the Ukraine crisis, which in turn has allocated a fifth of its overall budget to Moldova and where UNHCR has opened an office. €1 million of our contribution is earmarked directly for Moldova.
Ireland is also providing €1.5million to UNFPA, whose work in Moldova focuses on the protection of women and girls.
Many of Ireland’s humanitarian partners are expanding their activities to help the Moldovan government cope with the influx of refugees. The humanitarian package also includes a €1 million grant to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), which is also supporting the local response via the Moldovan Red Cross.
Ireland has also contributed to the inter-agency Regional Response Plan through Irish Aid core funding to key participating organisations, including UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). We encourage all our humanitarian partners to use their core funding to respond to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis including by supporting neighbouring countries.
The EU has also announced a rapid assistance package of €500 million to help civilians affected by the conflict. This will include support to the inter-agency RRP and additional funding of €5 million to Moldova in the European Commission’s revised Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP).
