Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
13. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to alleviate the plight of displaced and affected persons in the Syrian civil war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44895/12]
View answer59. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide further details of his recent trip to the Syrian refugee camps in Jordan; the scale of the problem on the ground; the way that Ireland has helped to date; and his plans for future assistance. [44812/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 59 together.
The people of Syria have been devastated by eighteen months of brutal violence. The numbers are horrifying – more than 19,000 killed in the violence, 2.5 million people in Syria in desperate need of assistance, over 1.2 million Syrians displaced within their own country and over quarter of a million Syrians now refugees in neighbouring countries. Recent reports have described indiscriminate shelling of densely populated areas, excessive use of force and random targeting of innocent civilians. There is urgent need for additional food, medical care and shelter as we face into the harsh winter months. Particular concern has been expressed for the 500,000 Palestinian and 100,000 Iraqi refugees living in Syria.
My colleague Minister of State, Joe Costello visited the region in August to witness firsthand the humanitarian consequences of this devastating crisis. In Za’atari refugee camp, 80 kilometres north of the Jordanian capital Amman, close to the Syrian border, he heard directly from Syrians who had recently fled the violence.
The Minister also saw how the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency responsible for the camp, was struggling with limited resources to provide even the most basic services such as shelter, food and water.
In meetings with the Jordanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nasser Judeh, the Jordanian Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Jafar Hassan, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Minister Costello was briefed on how this refugee burden is placing huge pressure on their country – one with a high pre-existing refugee population coupled with severe resource constraints.
As early as March this year, Ireland provided €500,000 in emergency funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UNHCR and the World Food Programme to provide life saving assistance inside Syria and in the neighbouring region.
Informed by the Government’s visit to Jordan, in August we were able to mobilise an additional €1.6 million of humanitarian assistance to the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNHCR, the World Health Organisation and the International Rescue Committee.
In advance of the approaching winter, Ireland has allocated an added €150,000 in non-food items for the UNHCR from our Rapid Response stocks in Dubai. Since March this year Ireland has therefore provided €2.25 million in humanitarian assistance.
Even if the reality on the ground is disheartening, we must continue to promote a peaceful settlement with the ultimate aim of political transition in Syria. Ireland is fully supportive of the newly appointed UN/Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, and his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and chart a political path ahead.
In parallel, international pressure needs to be maintained to bring an end to the violence and compel the Syrian regime to stop its bloody repression. Ireland, along with our international partners, has been advocating for a strong UN Security Council Resolution. I believe that this is now long overdue. There is a need for effective leadership and action on the part of the Security Council, imposing sanctions on those who continue to wage war on innocent civilians and who fail to meet their international obligations.
It is very clear that, while this is a humanitarian crisis, it is driven by politics and will only be solved with a political solution. From the beginning, Ireland has recognised this, striving to respond to the humanitarian needs of the populations affected by the violence whilst working simultaneously for a sustainable political solution, based on accommodating the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people. I can ensure you we will continue to maintain these efforts.
