Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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32. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if humanitarian assistance will be provided to persons in need in Iraq in view of the very difficult circumstances that have arisen due to the security situation in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28818/14]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The dramatically deteriorating situation in Iraq is a matter of very serious concern, for the Iraqi people, the region, and for the international community as a whole. The Al- Qaeda linked islamist militia known as ISIS, with allied Sunni groupings, has captured large parts of northern and western Iraq, including the major city of Mosul. It has also targeted key installations such as the country’s largest oil refinery. Following this recent escalation of violence, there are now nearly 2 million people displaced within Iraq, one million of whom have been displaced since January 2014. An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore T.D. discussed the crisis in Iraq with EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 June, at which the Council agreed Conclusions condemning the recent attacks by ISIS, and reports of horrific atrocities. The Council also expressed its serious concern at the humanitarian situation amid a further massive civilian displacement arising from the current emergency.

In view of the humanitarian consequences of the rapid deterioration of the security situation in Iraq, I recently authorised funding of €200,000 to Goal and €75,000 to Christian Aid to support the provision of essential relief items to vulnerable families who have been displaced by the recent fighting. In addition, I have authorised the airlifting of essential relief items (such as blankets, kitchen sets, jerry cans and shelter supplies) worth €220,000 from our stocks in Dubai to provide emergency relief to the most vulnerable displaced populations in Ninewa Governate in Northern Iraq. Earlier this year, Ireland provided €160,000 to support the provision of protection services and assistance for female Syrian refugees and host communities in Iraq, bringing our total assistance to date in 2014 to €655,000 and our total support over the period 2006-2014 to more than €13.5 million. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will continue to provide assistance, within our means and as the situation evolves.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if further humanitarian aid will be provided for Syria and that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28819/14]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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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 surpasses an estimated 150,000 people, there are now over 10.8 million people within Syria who are in need of immediate life-saving support, with a further 2.8 million Syrian refugees requiring assistance in neighbouring countries. The revised UN response plan for Syria and the refugee populations has requested US$6.5 billion dollars in total for operations in 2014, of which approximately 30% has been provided by the international community to date. This represents the largest humanitarian appeal in the history of the UN. Ireland has been to the fore in the international efforts 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. In view of the immense needs in Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, I announced Ireland’s pledge of a further €12 million in humanitarian assistance at the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria and region in Kuwait on January 15th 2014. Ireland has already exceeded this pledge for 2014 by €2 million bringing our overall funding commitment in the period 2011 to 2014 to €28.011 million. We will continue to provide assistance, within our means and as the situation evolves. To date funds have been provided to a range of established UN partners, NGO partners and the Red Cross/Red Crescent. This supports the provision of water, food, shelter and vital medicines to internally displaced persons within Syria and also to refugees and host communities in neighbouring countries, particularly Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

Ireland 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, as well as for respect by all parties of International Humanitarian Law. In view of the immense needs in Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, Ireland will continue to advocate at all relevant international fora for increased support to the humanitarian relief, as well as for the full and immediate implementation by all parties to the conflict of UN Security Council Resolution 2139 on Humanitarian Assistance in Syria.