Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support humanitarian aid to the 30,000 Palestinians currently resident in Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus in Syria. [2637/14]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The tragic and unrelenting crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities rises towards 130,000, there are now over 9.3 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 2.3 million Syrians who have fled to neighbouring countries.

The Palestinian refugee population is of increasing concern to the international humanitarian community. Prior to the conflict, the 500,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria were already poorer and more vulnerable than the general population. While they were originally spared the excesses of the violence, their communities have been increasingly affected by the violence, and are often directly targeted. Increasing numbers of Palestinian refugees are fleeing to neighbouring countries to escape the violence but those that are left behind are at risk.

I am deeply concerned about the plight of Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk refugee camp just outside of Damascus. UN agencies, including UNRWA, have been unable to access the camp due to fighting in this besieged part of Syria. I was alarmed to learn that UNRWA convoys carrying essential food and medical supplies had to withdraw from Yarmouk recently because of hostilities. Over the past year I have used every opportunity at the international level to call upon all sides of the conflict to ensure that relief organisations can deliver life-saving assistance to those under siege.

Ireland will continue to call for increased support to the humanitarian relief effort, both within the EU and the United Nations. Our overarching priority remains achieving an end to this appalling conflict and the horrific loss of life and mass violations of human rights which are its principal result. I am working with my colleagues through the EU and at the UN to support the Geneva II framework, which remains the best option for a negotiated end to the conflict.

Ireland has been to the fore in the international efforts to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and is one of the ten most generous contributors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis. Last week I attended a Pledging Conference on Syria, kindly hosted by the Government of Kuwait, at which I announced a pledge of €12 million towards the humanitarian response in Syria and neighbouring countries. With this pledge, Ireland will have committed more than €26 million in assistance to respond to the crisis through a range of established UN partners, the Red Cross and Irish and international NGOs. This humanitarian aid has been targeted at both Syrians and Palestinian refugees affected by the crisis within the country and in neighbouring countries.

Ireland is a longstanding supporter of UNRWA (the UN agency dedicated to responding to the needs of Palestinian refugees). As well as providing €4 million in core funding to the agency on an annual basis, we have specifically provided €1,200,000 to UNRWA for its humanitarian response to Palestinian refugees directly affected by the Syria crisis. We will continue our support to UNRWA in 2014.