Irish Government announces €500,000 aid package towards disaster relief in Nepal

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee TD and Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Neale Richmond TD have announced €500,000 in emergency funding to support relief efforts following the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal.

Severe flash flooding on 26 August caused significant loss of life, widespread destruction and displacement, with communities across affected areas facing an urgent need for assistance.

A Government statement said Ireland’s €500,000 contribution will support the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) Nepal Floods Appeal and will be channelled to the Nepalese Red Cross to provide urgent assistance to those most affected.

The Government aid package will prioritise emergency shelters, safe drinking water, basic relief items, first aid and health support, and restoring access to communities isolated by flooding and landslides. While initial assessments are ongoing, more than 10,000 households are estimated to require immediate assistance.

Announcing the funding, Minister McEntee said: ‘My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, their homes or their livelihoods as a result of these devastating floods and landslides in Nepal. This is a deeply distressing time for families and communities who are facing the aftermath of a disaster that has caused such terrible loss and destruction.

Minister Helen McEntee. (RollingNews.ie)

Ireland stands with the people of Nepal at this difficult time. We are providing €500,000 in emergency assistance through the Red Cross to deliver vital support to those who need it most, including shelter, clean water, healthcare, and essential relief supplies.’

Minister Neale Richmond. (RollingNews.ie)

While Minister Richmond said: ‘Ireland has a proud history of responding to need when disasters strike. The flooding and landslides in Nepal have had a devastating impact, claiming lives, displacing families and causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.

The funding announced today will support the IFRC and the Nepalese Red Cross as they deliver life-saving support to those affected. It will also complement the support being provided directly by the Irish Red Cross, via its Emergency Appeal, and its long-standing partnership with its sister National Society in Nepal, as well as the response being delivered by Irish Aid’s wider network of humanitarian partners.’

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.