Government signs €1.5m aid package with UN

The Government has signed an agreement with the United Nations to supply a World Food Programme (WFP) centre in Italy with supplies…

The Government has signed an agreement with the United Nations to supply a World Food Programme (WFP) centre in Italy with supplies to ensure rapid distribution of emergency aid to disaster-hit countries.

The €1.5 million agreement will pre-position the materials at the WFP rapid response centre in the port of Brindisi.

A smaller supply stock will be stored in the Curragh Camp as it is close to Dublin airport and Baldonnel airport.

Announcing the aid package this morning, Minister of State for Development Co-operation and Human Rights Conor Lenihan said the Rapid Response Initiative was the first proposal to be implemented from the recently-published White Paper on Irish Aid.

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Speaking at this morning's announcement, UN Food Programme executive director James Morris welcomed the move, saying Ireland was playing a leading role in responding to an increasing number of natural disasters.

He said: "This is a monumental humanitarian contribution that will save thousands of lives out there. We don't know where the next natural disaster will be, but as sure as I am sitting here, one will happen this week."

The Government will also contribute a once-off payment of €400,000 towards the expansion of UN supply depots, and an annual €400,000 for the cost of operating a facility in Accra, Ghana.

The port of Brindisi in southern Italy is the base for the UN's rapid response unit, which can scramble emergency aid to disaster regions within 48 hours.

As part of the White Paper on Irish Aid, the Government will also draw up a register of engineers and other workers who can be deployed within 24 hours to assist in emergency situations.

A new dedicated unit for conflict analysis and resolution will also be established within the Foreign Affairs Department. As outlined in the White Paper, a hunger taskforce will also be established to examine how the country can help tackle the root causes of food insecurity, particularly in Africa.