The Government has announced a package of up to £1 million of emergency aid for the victims of the Indian earthquake which is feared to have killed up 15,000 people.
An initial £250,000 will be made immediately available. The remainder of the funds will be made available as a clearer picture of needs emerge from preliminary assessments and reports from India, the Department of Foreign Affairs said today.
The fund was made in response to the appeal of the International Federation of the Red Cross which is coordinating with the Indian authorities.
On announcing the package, Ms Liz O'Donnell, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said: "It will be particularly important to meet the basic needs of shelter, food and clothing in the immediate aftermath of the disaster."
Ms O'Donnell has been in touch with the Embassy of Ireland in Delhi and the Embassy is monitoring the situation closely, the Department said.