Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2018
44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had at European Union and United Nations level on the need to provide humanitarian aid to the persons most in need in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10751/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe humanitarian situation in Syria remains of utmost concern. The conflict continues to have a devastating impact on civilians and the suffering in Eastern Ghouta in particular is appalling. Over 13 million people require humanitarian assistance inside Syria alone and over 5.5 million have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. In 2018, the UN estimates that $7.9 billion is required to meet the needs of the most vulnerable within Syria and across the region – the highest appeal worldwide for a single crisis. Ireland is committed to providing ongoing humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis and has contributed over €90 million to the international humanitarian response since 2012, including over €25 million in 2017. Ireland also supports the EU’s humanitarian response. The largest response to the crisis has been from the EU and its Member States, who together have mobilised more than €10.4 billion for humanitarian, stabilisation and resilience assistance inside Syria and in neighbouring countries.
In April this year, the EU will host, in close cooperation with the UN, a second donors’ conference for Syria and the region, focused on sustaining political and financial commitments in response to the crisis. At an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in mid-February, at which Ireland was represented by the Minister of European Affairs, there was broad agreement that a key focus of the conference should be on humanitarian efforts and access in Syria.
At the most recent EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 26 February, Ireland joined Member States in calling for an immediate ceasefire, and unhindered humanitarian access in Syria. Ireland will continue to raise the importance of sustained and unhindered humanitarian aid as part of overall efforts to respond to the crisis in Syria in relevant EU and UN fora.
Ultimately, an end to violence is urgently needed in order to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people. Ireland and the EU fully support the UN-led political negotiations to end the conflict based on the 2012 Geneva Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254, which call for an end to violence; full humanitarian access; a democratic political transition, and accountability and transitional justice.
