Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
352. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) being held in an orphanage in south-east Turkey, far from the person's remaining family. [11563/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe relatives in this case should contact the responsible agencies, including UNHCR and UNICEF, in Damascus directly, where such family reunification cases are dealt with.
Ireland is strongly committed to alleviating the suffering of the people of Syria and, since 2012, has provided over €42 million in humanitarian support to those affected by the Syria crisis. We have pledged to provide a further €20 million by the end of 2016. Ireland will provide €5 million this year specifically to support Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Ireland’s humanitarian assistance for Syria includes financial support to those agencies which assist with family reunification. In addition to providing support to UNICEF, we support UNHCR and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), which work actively to reunite families in conflict situations. Irish Aid also supports the work of UNRWA, the UN World Food Programme, and other Red Cross and NGO partners, all of which are doing vital work to improving the very difficult situation for Syrian refugees.
In the five years since the conflict began, more than 260,000 people are reported to have been killed, and more than 18 million people across the region have been affected. Ireland continues strongly to endorse the efforts of the United Nations to renew peace negotiations based on the 2012 Geneva communique principles.
