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Humanitarian Aid

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 December 2012

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Questions (84)

Brendan Smith

Question:

84. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will allocate additional overseas development aid to assist the humanitarian relief efforts in Syria and in surrounding countries in view of the fact that the crisis in Syria has intensified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57271/12]

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Written answers

The appalling suffering of the Syrian civilian population over the last twenty one months is of deep concern to Ireland. Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 an estimated 40,000 people have been killed in the violence. Over 2.5 million people inside Syria are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, with 1.2 million people displaced inside the country. The number of registered refugees from Syria in the region has now passed half a million. This has placed enormous pressure on Syria’s neighbours, who have made commendable efforts to host the refugee population and respond proactively and generously to their needs.

Ireland too has responded swiftly to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and in neighbouring countries. As early as March 2012 we provided €500,000 in emergency funding for the ICRC, UNHCR and the World Food Programme. In August I visited Jordan and witnessed firsthand the huge strain that the refugee population is placing on the host countries, both in relation to the refugee camps and also the host communities. Since then Ireland has provided additional support of €1,750,000 to UN agencies and NGO partners who are providing life saving medical assistance to Syrians both in Syria and neighbouring countries. Irish assistance also included supplies of non-food items from our stocks in Dubai. A contribution of €200,000 to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees caught up in the conflict brings Ireland’s total response to the crisis to €2,450,000.

Ireland also understands 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. Ireland has worked for a unified international response and has particularly encouraged the members of the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities and show leadership in relation to the crisis, primarily through adoption of a new, strong Security Council Resolution.

We continue to strongly support the efforts of the UN/Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, to promote a political settlement. An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D. was very pleased to meet with Mr. Brahimi during the recent OSCE ministerial meeting in Dublin where he also met with Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Lavrov. Ireland has also participated actively within the framework of the Friends of Syria Group, which includes my own attendance at the most recent meeting of the group last week in Marrakesh.

Ireland has provided significant support to those in need as a result of this crisis. Into the future we will continue to monitor the situation so that we can assess when we may be able to further contribute, within our means, to the humanitarian needs within the region.

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