Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 April 2014
149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised at the most recent meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council the ongoing serious conflict and loss of life in Syria and the need to provide additional humanitarian aid for Syria and adjoining countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18065/14]
View answerThe continuing violence in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities reaches an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.6 million Syrian refugees requiring assistance in neighbouring countries. Ireland has been to the fore in the international efforts to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and is one of the most generous contributors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis. In view of the immense needs in Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, Ireland pledged €12 million in humanitarian assistance for 2014 at the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria and region in Kuwait on January 15th 2014. This pledge will bring Ireland’s overall funding commitment over the period 2011 to 2014 to €26.011 million, of which €20 million has been disbursed to date. Funds have been provided to a range of established UN partners as well as to Irish NGOs. Ireland has been consistent in its efforts to ensure that the necessary attention is given by the international community to this crisis, including at the most recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels last month where discussion focused, in particular, on the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
We have consistently matched our humanitarian contribution with concrete support to international efforts to find a sustainable political solution to the crisis, and to advocate for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. I have called for all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law and to refrain from the targeting of civilians. I am firmly of the view that Syria’s neighbouring states cannot alone shoulder the burden of hosting the influx of Syrian refugees. Over half of Ireland’s contribution to the humanitarian relief effort has been allocated to assist refugees and host communities in neighbouring states. Ireland will continue to advocate in all international discussion on Syria for increased support to the humanitarian relief effort both within Syria and for neighbouring countries, as well as for the full and immediate implementation by all parties to the conflict of UN Security Council Resolution 2139 on Syria Humanitarian Assistance.
