The Minister for Foreign Affairs says officials from his Department are trying to help a Galway woman and her daughter who are stranded on the Palestinian side of the Egyptian border.

Dermot Ahern says barna woman Treasa Ní Cheannabháin should have given his department her contact details before beginning their trip.

Ms. Ní Cheannabháin and her 19-year-old daughter Naisrin, travelled to Gaza to distribute aid to hospitals and orphanages on behalf of the Galway-Palestinian Children's Fund.

They had entered Gaza via the Egyptian border.

When they tried to return to Egypt at the border crossing at Rafah they were turned away.

Dermot Ahern says that people travelling to countries experiencing conflict need to keep in contact with his department.