Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the humanitarian disaster in Syria and adjoining regions; if there are proposals to provide much needed additional humanitarian aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38810/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The tragic crisis unfolding in Syria and in neighbouring countries has resulted in enormous humanitarian needs, requiring an urgent and sustained response from the international community. With the number of fatalities surpassing 100,000, there are now close to 7 million people who are in need of immediate life saving support. In addition to more than 4 million people who are displaced within Syria, there are in excess of 2 million Syrians who have fled the violence to take refuge in neighbouring countries, one million of whom are children. In the face of this terrible suffering, it is imperative that the international community is united in demanding greater protection for Syria’s civilian population. The world has rarely seen a humanitarian crisis as bad as that caused by the conflict in Syria. Ireland has been consistent in its call for all parties to the conflict to fully respect, and be held accountable for violations of International Humanitarian Law. Throughout our EU Presidency in the first half of the year, Ireland took every opportunity to underline the gravity of the humanitarian situation, including through discussion at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The most recent discussions on the Syrian crisis took place at the Gymnich (Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers) in Vilnius on 6-7 September. Ireland fully supports the subsequent press statement by High Representative Catherine Ashton in which she highlighted the need to reaffirm our commitment to the people of Syria and to support them in every way possible through our humanitarian aid.

Ireland has been unwavering in its support to the international humanitarian response. To date, we have provided almost 11 million Euros to the relief effort and are one of the world’s most generous donors – on a per capita basis - to the response to this crisis. Through trusted NGO partners here in Ireland, as well as the UN and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement, we are playing a considerable part in the international effort to meet the massive needs both inside Syria and in the wider region. We stand ready to provide further assistance, within our means, to the humanitarian response.