Humanitarian Aid
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-02
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

As time previously did not allow, I wish to stress that the European Commission is providing financial support. For all the reasons the Deputy outlined, it is important that humanitarian aid and support is provided. There is €2 million in aid in response to the crisis currently. That follows €4 million of EU funding approved as a regional allocation to the Caribbean, which was primarily allocated to the response in Cuba. In 2025, almost €6 million was provided for disaster preparedness and emergency response. A twin approach is needed. As the Deputy said, it is about providing that direct humanitarian assistance but also making sure this does not fall off the political or international agendas. I understand Cuba has requested an additional debate at the UN General Assembly on 7 July next week due to the escalation of measures that have been taken by the US in recent months, as well as threats of military action. While this is strictly procedural and it is to vote on whether there will be a further debate on this, we will be voting in favour on 7 July that we would have a wider discussion on this, so we can discuss and assess the current humanitarian situation and that we can use our position within the UN and our voice to call for this type of embargo and these types of sanctions to be lifted. As the Deputy said and we all agree, the main people who are suffering here are civilians and citizens who cannot access medicines, cannot get food to those who need it and cannot go about their daily business in the way the Deputy or I can.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-02/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:14+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-02