Cowen, O’Donnell meet charities over Afghanistan

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, and Minister of State, Ms Liz O’Donnell, today met with representatives from Irish charity organisations in regard to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Among those attending the talks at Iveagh House, Dublin were Trocáire director Mr Justin Kilcullen, Mr John O’Shea, director of GOAL and Paddy McGuinness, Deputy CEO of Concern.

It is thought that they discussed the call by some of the world’s biggest aid agencies for an immediate cessation of military activity in Afghanistan so that food, clothing and medicine can be brought to those that need them.

Speaking on the situation in Afghanistan last night Ms O’Donnell said: "There is agreement in the international community on the absolute necessity of ensuring the delivery of vital humanitarian supplies on a safe and consistent basis to those most in need.

"It follows from this that secure access corridors are needed to reach the most vulnerable sections of the population," she said.

Ms O’Donnell also referred to the onset of winter in Afghanistan. "We have little time to put the necessary emergency stocks in place and Ireland will use every opportunity to urge donors to ensure that humanitarian funding commitments are discharged as quickly as possible. It is a race against time," she said.

The Minister also urged for the opening of borders between Afghanistan and its neighbours Pakistan and Iran.

"At the moment it would appear that refugee flows out of Afghanistan are lower than anticipated. However this may change at any time and UNHCR is making preparations for up to one and a half million refugees.

"The reopening of borders to cater for a steadily escalating refugee flow is necessary to enable aid agencies and their staff to respond effectively and to allow refugees across. People have the right to flee from conflict and seek refuge. This issue requires urgent consideration and attention from the international community," she said.

Ms O'Donnell went on to express her shock at the bombing of the Red Cross warehouse in Kabul and the need to comply fully with international humanitarian law which protects aid workers and emergency supplies.

"The targeting of humanitarian activity, however unintentional, is simply not acceptable" she said.

The Irish Government's assistance to Afghanistan has amounted to £4 million in 2001. Ireland Aid has funded the work, in Afghanistan and on its borders, of Irish NGOs Concern, Trocáire, Christian Aid and Goal.