Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the ongoing efforts of the EU and UN in regard to offering practical support and aid to the war victims in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49538/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria and in neighbouring countries has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained and urgent response from the international community. There are now approximately 9 million people who are in need of immediate life saving support. In addition to more than 6.5 million people who are displaced within Syria, there are currently 2.2 million Syrians who have fled the violence to take refuge in neighbouring countries. Ireland has been doing all it can to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and is one of the most generous contributors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis, having provided almost €14 million in assistance since the crisis began. The total includes support to NGOs partners as well as to members of the Red Cross/Red Crescent and six different UN agencies.

The EU has expressed grave concerns about the humanitarian situation in Syria, and underlined the pressing need to protect civilians. The EU has stated it will continue its support as the largest donor with the total aid contribution reaching now €1.9 billion. Thus, the EU welcomed the Presidential Statement of the UNSC on 2nd October, which calls on the Syrian regime to take immediate steps to facilitate the expansion of humanitarian relief operations and lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles including, inter alia, the need to allow for humanitarian access across borders from neighbouring countries. It has also expressed its full support for all diplomatic measures to ensure protection of medical and humanitarian personnel and the safety of their passage.

The revised UN response plans for Syria and the refugee populations in neighbouring countries has requested close to US$5.2 billion dollars for operations in 2013. This represents the largest humanitarian appeal in the UN’s history. The appeal for the humanitarian response inside Syria is 58 per cent funded to date and the refugee appeal for neighbouring countries is 63 per cent funded to date. The UN is succeeding in reaching many vulnerable populations across Syria. In September, WFP reached 2.7 million people with family food rations throughout the 14 Syrian governorates and is planning to scale up to 4 million people per month. WHO has reached 339,566 people with medicine and medical supplies and UNICEF has reached 233,344 children with health screening in both Government and opposition controlled areas. Nevertheless, despite these positive results, the Government remains concerned that over 2.5 million people inside Syria have not been reached with any assistance for up to a year. Reaching these populations under siege is an urgent priority.

Over the course of the next month, a regional UN team will complete consultations on the Comprehensive Regional Strategy exercise which will inform finalisation of the Regional Response Plan (RRP) due to be launched on 16th December. It has been agreed that all initiatives – including the response to a new worrying polio epidemic – will be incorporated under the chapeau of this integrated plan. The Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP) for 2014 will be launched on the same date.

Peace in Syria remains the overall objective and Ireland supports calls for an urgent political solution to solve the crisis which continues to have a profound impact on Syrians and neighbouring countries.