8 Oct 2013, 10:35
The humanitarian impact of the conflict in Syria will be the focus of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade when it meets with representatives from Concern, GOAL and Medicine Sans Frontier tomorrow, Wednesday, 9th October 2013.
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen TD said: “Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 more than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict and around 6.5 million have been driven from their homes, leading to a devastating humanitarian crisis.
We have already discussed the current situation in Syria in detail with Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore where we received an update on Ireland’s and the EU’s position on the crisis and our response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Syria. Ireland’s total contribution to this crisis to date stands at €10.8 million, of which €8.15 million has been provided in 2013. Funds have been provided to a range of established UN partners as well as to Irish NGOs.
It is clear that millions of people require humanitarian assistance and that the situation is deteriorating rapidly. At our meeting tomorrow with representatives from Médicins Sans Frontieres, Concern and GOAL, we will be able to get an up to date assessment of the nature of the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
We will be keen to get their perspective on the crisis and on what extra measures Ireland, Europe and the international community could take to help avert a wider catastrophe, protect the lives of the civilian population in Syria and bring about a resolution to the conflict.”
The meeting will start in Committee Room 1, Leinster House at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 9th October 2013.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Media queries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
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Committee Membership
Deputies
Seán Crowe, TD
Pat Breen, TD (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Olivia Mitchell, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Gerald Nash, TD
Dan Neville, TD
Maureen O’Sullivan, TD
Brendan Smith, TD
Senators
Deirdre Clune,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Michael Mullins,
David Norris,
Jim Walsh.