Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, and Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock, TD, announced the assistance recently.
"The 500,000 euros rise in funding comes in light of increasing humanitarian needs which have become clearer as a result of ongoing assessments by Irish Aid partners on the ground in Nepal," a statement issued on Sunday said.The funding is being used to airlift an additional 51 tons of Ireland's propositioned emergency relief items of blankets, tents, tarpaulins, jerry cans, and other urgent supplies to assist families left homeless by the earthquakes.
According to the statement, an airlift was sent last week from the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Subang, Malaysia, where Irish Aid pre-positions supplies for use in global emergencies. Officials say 36 tons of these additional relief supplies arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday and are being distributed by Concern Worldwide and Goal in the worst affected districts like Dolakha, Gorkha, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Rasuwa and Dhading, focusing on survivors and vulnerable families.
A further airlift of 15 tons is now being organized to depart from Malaysia later this week with relief items to be distributed by Christian Aid and its partners in Gorkha. Announcing the airlifts, Minister Flanagan said: "Ireland acted quickly to respond to the earthquake, but as the magnitude of this disaster has become clear, it is all too apparent that further assistance is required. Immediate threats to life include lack of lack of shelter, lack of sufficient food, lack of access to sanitation and personal hygiene."
Similarly Minister of State Sherlock said: "It is crucial that the humanitarian response continues to be supported so that assistance can reach remote and most affected villages and adequate support reaches those in need ahead of the monsoon season which start next month. Our aid is being targeted directly to address urgent shelter needs."
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