86. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the humanitarian aid that has been made available to the people of Venezuela since the earthquake earlier in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66344/26]

I was shocked at the widespread loss of life and destruction caused by the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June.

On 30 June, Minister McEntee and I announced the provision of €1 million in response to the Venezuela Earthquake Appeal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). This funding supported the Venezuelan Red Cross, who were among the first responders, carrying out search and rescue, providing physical and psychological first aid, and providing ongoing support. Ireland had earlier provided €1 million to the Venezuela Humanitarian Fund, managed by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which also responded to the earthquake.

Ireland also provided relief items to GOAL and CESVI (an Italian humanitarian organisation), for distribution to people displaced by the earthquake. These items included shelter materials, blankets, water containers, mosquito nets, and kitchen sets. The relief items were provided from Ireland’s pre-positioned stocks in the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Panama, and transported as part of the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge established by the EU in response to the earthquake.

Ireland also responded through our contributions to global humanitarian funds. $15m was provided from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to UN agencies responding to the earthquake. CHF 2 million was provided to the Venezuelan Red Cross from the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund.

The Department will continue to engage closely with our EU, UN, Red Cross and other humanitarian aid partners to understand evolving needs.