Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
320. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Irish and EU humanitarian assistance for Syria can be provided directly to Syrian and non-Syrian humanitarian and human rights organisations in order that priority will be given to projects that will enable Syrian refugees sustain themselves in the long term and defend their rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5330/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2012, Ireland has provided over €168 million in humanitarian aid, including over €25 million provided in 2020, to those affected by the conflict in Syria and the region. This is our largest ever response to any single crisis. Funding is provided through implementing organisations including non-governmental organisations, UN organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Each of these partners has specific qualities, areas of focus, and comparative advantage that allows us to reach a broad range of recipients. Support through these partners meets the high levels of accountability and strict standards of propriety which are in place for all implementing organisations.
Our key implementing partners in the Syria region are:
- The UN, which is often the lead actor in many major humanitarian crises, has a strong overview of overall needs, and coordinates the various actors involved in the response.
- The ICRC, whose speciality is working in conflict, and which is sometimes the only humanitarian actor present in some particularly challenging contexts.
- Irish NGOs, whose programmes are both addressing immediate life-saving needs of the most vulnerable communities affected by the Syria crisis and advocating for their protection from human rights abuses.
Crucially, each of these partners works in close cooperation and partnership with local community organisations. For example, the UN’s Syria Cross Border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), to which Ireland provided €2.5m in 2020, supports recipients that include Syrian and international NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements and UN agencies. One of the Fund’s key objectives is to maximise engagement with local, national and diaspora Syrian NGOs to ensure better access to the people in need. As a result, over the past few years, the SCHF has grown into a critical funding mechanism for Syrian NGOs with a large part of its funding allocated to local partners.
In addition, Ireland is a significant contributor to EU humanitarian budgets. Through its annual contributions to the EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s response. The EU has mobilised more than €20 billion since 2012 for assistance to support Syrians inside the country and in the region. 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.
