Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
381. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the support provided by his Department and the EU for Syrian refugees in Lebanon; the additional supports required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45169/20]
View answerThe conflict in Syria has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Refugees from Syria are the biggest refugee population from a single conflict in a generation, with over 5.5 million having fled to neighbouring countries. Lebanon, with over 1.5 million Syrian refugees, hosts the largest numbers of refugees per capita in the world, 20 per cent of its population.
The capacity of local communities and Syrian refugees to provide mutual support is being placed under severe strain by economic turmoil and the Covid-19 crisis. The generosity of the Lebanese people in hosting such a large number of refugees has to be acknowledged. Ireland’s humanitarian policy will continue to support refugees and vulnerable host communities.
In 2020, my Department, through Irish Aid, provided €4.25 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, through the UN’s Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, the UN Relief and Works Agency, as well as Concern and Trócaire. Each of these partners is crucial to supporting the ongoing refugee response. Overall, Ireland has provided approximately €31 million in funding to Lebanon since 2014. In the year ahead, I envisage Ireland maintaining its level of financial support as humanitarian and development needs will remain high.
Also, since 2012, Irish Aid has deployed close to 20 skilled and experienced volunteers to Lebanon to work with UN humanitarian agencies in their humanitarian or emergency response operations.
Ireland also responds to existing needs in Lebanon through the EU. Since its establishment in 2014, a significant share of the EU's support for Syrian refugees and Syria's neighbouring countries has been provided through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis. The Fund primarily addresses educational, economic, social and health needs of Syrian refugees while also supporting overstretched local communities and their administrations. The Fund has mobilised €1 billion for Lebanon.
The devastating explosion in August 2020 in the port of Beirut was a very serious setback. The EU mobilised €32 million to support the most vulnerable Lebanese and refugee communities. This brought the total EU humanitarian assistance to €83 million in 2020.
Immediately following the explosion, Ireland provided significant stocks of medical supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment, to the World Health Organisation in Beirut which coordinated the health response to the crisis. These supplies were transported by the Irish Defence Forces which, following decades of distinguished service in UNIFIL, have a strong relationship with Lebanon.
