Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2013
17. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail the projects and programmes that will receive funding from his recent decision to approve an additional €4.7 million of Irish Aid money to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. [8847/13]
View answer22. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the additional humanitarian support he plans to provide to refugees from the Syrian civil war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8916/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 22 together.
The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, causing further suffering for Syrians and others caught up in this terrible violence. An excess of 60,000 people are now estimated to have been killed as a result of the almost two year old conflict, which has witnessed indiscriminate targeting of civilians and residential areas, as well as humanitarian and medical organisations. With more than 820,000 individuals having fled the desperate situation in the country, the majority of whom are women and children, neighbouring countries have shown great generosity but also endured great strain in hosting those in need.
At the High Level Donor Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait City on 30 January 2013, I announced, on behalf of Ireland, a pledge of €4.7 million towards the humanitarian response in Syria and neighbouring countries, particularly Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. This substantial contribution has further illustrated Ireland’s clear commitment to meeting the urgent needs of those affected by the ongoing conflict. As early as March 2012, the Government commenced providing emergency assistance through partner agencies on the ground, and to date, our total contribution now stands at €7,100,000.
As part of the most recent pledge the Government has donated €1million to the International Committee of the Red Cross. This is in recognition of the key role the organisation plays in reaching those in desperate need of vital humanitarian assistance within Syria. We will also make €1 million available to the UNHCR, which is leading on the Syrian Regional Response Plan, to meet the needs of the dramatically increasing numbers of refugees across the region. A further €750,000 in Irish support is going to the World Food Programme which is currently reaching approximately 1.5 million people each month with emergency food assistance in all of Syria’s 14 governorates. The pledge also includes €750,000 in assistance to UNICEF towards an improved protection environment for the children affected by the conflict and for their greater access to basic health and education services.
In order to help address the needs of Palestinian refugees, including through cash and food assistance, emergency shelter rehabilitation, emergency health, education and the provision of winter supplies, a contribution of €500,000 has been pledged to UNRWA. Finally, funding of €500,000 to the Syria Emergency Response Fund will enable both UN agencies and international and local NGOs to expand their reach to assist those in the worse affected areas. This significant financial contribution from the Irish people was supplemented by the donation to Goal of non-food items from our stocks in Dubai through our Rapid Response Initiative to the value of €200,000.
Into the future we will continue to monitor the situation so that we can review the effectiveness of our contribution and assess how, within our means, we may be able to further respond to humanitarian needs within the region. As Presidency of the European Union, Ireland is striving to build momentum behind international efforts to ease the terrible humanitarian burden the Syrian people face, emphasising the need for all parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian access and aid delivery to the people in need, to ensure the neutrality of humanitarian aid and to abide by International Humanitarian Law. I remain committed to using the EU Presidency to call on all donors to fulfil pledges made, in coordination with the UN and in full respect of humanitarian principles so that the worst effects of the deplorable violence in this conflict can be abated.
