6. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide details of the humanitarian supports Ireland is providing to Venezuela in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52004/26]

10. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the humanitarian support her Department has provided to Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52189/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 10 together.

The Government shares the shock at the widespread loss of life and the destruction as a result of the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June.

We have expressed our solidarity with the people of Venezuela and have made it clear that Ireland is ready to provide all possible assistance in the global response.

On 30 June, Minister McEntee and I announced the provision of €1 million in humanitarian assistance for the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This funding will support the Venezuelan Red Cross, who are among the first responders and are best placed to carry out search and rescue, provide physical and psychological first aid, restore family links and conduct damage assessments.

Ireland is also responding through our contributions to global humanitarian funds. $15m has been provided from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to UN agencies responding to the earthquake. Ireland is the 6th largest donor to the Fund. CHF2 million has been provided to the Venezuelan Red Cross from the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund. We had earlier provided €1 million to the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund, managed by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which is now also responding to the earthquake.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is liaising with Irish aid organisations working in Venezuela on the possible deployment of relief items from Ireland’s pre-positioned stocks in the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Panama. This would be delivered in partnership with the EU. Ireland prepositions essential relief items in strategic hubs around the world to facilitate the quick and cost-effective provision of relief items.

The Department will continue to engage closely with our EU, UN, Red Cross and aid partners to understand evolving needs and to ensure that we can provide all possible assistance for the people of Venezuela at this tragic moment.