Ireland pledges €1m for China relief

Ireland today pledged €1 million to help earthquake relief efforts in China.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin made the pledge after a meeting with the Ambassador of China, HE Liu Biwei, at his residence in Dublin.

Mr Martin told the ambassador that Ireland’s rapid response corps could also be used in the relief effort. The corps, which is run by the Irish Aid division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, was created last year to respond to international crises.

“I am shocked and saddened by the extent of the destruction caused by this earthquake in Sichuan Province,” Mr Martin told Mr Biwei during the meeting.

“Irish people feel a profound sympathy for the people of China at this terrible time and would like to offer their support," he added. The Irish Aid pledge will be channelled through the International Federation of the Red Cross in Geneva.

The Irish division of the Red Cross today sent €25,000 to help the victims of the quake. Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross John Roycroft said: “The scale and level of destruction the earthquake in China has brought on the people of Sichuan Province warrants our urgent assistance and this is why it is imperative that we make this money available to help provide emergency shelter materials for those most affected.”

Earlier this week, President McAleese contacted the Chinese ambassador to express her sympathy on behalf of the Irish people.

Countries from around the world have pledged financial aid to China. Taiwan pledged $65 million, Saudi Arabia gave $50 million in cash and $10 million in relief material. India donated $5 million, Britain gave £1 million, and Norway $4 million.

In Europe, Spain pledged €1 million, Belgium €650,000, and Germany gave €500,000. The United States pledged $500,000 as an "initial contribution", while Japan donated $4.8 million in cash and goods.

Russia has sent four plane-loads of 130 tonnes of relief material, while France will send a cargo plane loaded with material worth an estimated €250,000 later this week.