Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

67. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to provide additional overseas development assistance for Syria and that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40322/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 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.

My officials are continuously monitoring the evolving situation in Syria and the surrounding region, and my proposed visit to Lebanon next month will provide an opportunity to review the relief effort and assess humanitarian needs on the ground. In view of the immense needs in Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, Ireland is likely to provide further assistance, within our means, to the humanitarian response.