Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the humanitarian situation in Syria remains a priority with the international community; the extent to which aid and support is being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15886/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The protracted and tragic crisis in Syria has resulted in unprecedented levels of humanitarian need, requiring a sustained response from the international community. As the number of fatalities exceeds an estimated 140,000 people, there are now over 9.3 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.6 million Syrian refugees requiring assistance in neighbouring countries.

Ireland has been working consistently 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 over €20 million in assistance since the crisis began and committed a total of €26 million. As the humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate it is imperative that civilians in urgent need of live-saving humanitarian assistance be reached. Ireland is acutely aware of the high numbers of people inside Syria who have not received any assistance in a long period of time. We have been consistent in our efforts to ensure that the necessary attention is given by the international community to this crisis, in particular on the issue of humanitarian access.

While United Nations Security Council Resolution 2139 of February 22nd was a very welcome and necessary step in attempting to enhance humanitarian access and ease civilian suffering, full political weight now needs to be brought to bear through the UN Security Council to ensure its implementation. Ireland is disappointed with the limited impact of this Resolution on the ground to date as reported by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on March 24th. One month after the passing of this Resolution, humanitarian access in Syria remains extremely challenging for humanitarian organisations, with access to many areas still being denied.

Ireland welcomes confirmation by the United Nations that a major cross-border convoy carrying vital humanitarian aid for Syrian civilians, who are desperately in need, crossed from Turkey into North-Eastern Syria on March 21st. However, the fact remains that humanitarian access across many parts of Syria is still exceptionally difficult as a result of the continued disregard by armed groups on both sides of the conflict of their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.

The Government has consistently matched our material humanitarian contribution with concrete support to international efforts to find a sustainable political solution to the crisis, and to advocate for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. We have called for all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law and to refrain from the targeting of civilians. Ireland will continue to advocate at all relevant international fora for increased support to the humanitarian relief effort, as well as for the full and immediate implementation by all parties to the conflict of UN Security Council Resolution 2139 on humanitarian access.