Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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210. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which aid, and support, can be provided to the civilian population in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8669/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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The protracted crisis in Syria and the region has resulted in immense humanitarian need. More than 200,000 people have lost their lives, and there are now over 12.2 million people in Syria in need of immediate life-saving support. Due to the violence and the lack of access to aid, 3.8 million people have left Syria for assistance in neighbouring countries. Ireland is one of the most generous contributors to the humanitarian response on a per capita basis and has already provided over €30 million in humanitarian support to Syria since 2011. Our support is delivered through UN partners and NGOs. It has been focused both on people displaced within Syria and those across the wider region. One of the most difficult features of this crisis is that many of those who are most in need are beyond the reach of humanitarian aid, or are able to receive it only sporadically. Both the Syrian Government and rebel factions are using siege tactics and heavy weaponry in populated areas. The operating environment is extremely volatile and insecure, particularly in opposition-controlled areas. The targeting of humanitarian workers by the group Islamic State (ISIS) means that millions living in the areas which ISIS currently controls do not receive the help they so desperately need. Ireland has consistently advocated for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, as well as for respect by all parties of International Humanitarian Law.

Ireland welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2165 in July 2014, which authorised the delivery of humanitarian aid by the UN and its partners across the border into Syria, even without the consent of the Assad regime. Ireland has been working through a variety of channels, including our established UN partners, NGO partners and the Red Cross/Red Crescent in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to ensure that Irish aid can be delivered across borders and conflict lines to those in most acute need.

A donor Pledging Conference will take place in Kuwait at the end of March, which will be an opportunity for donors to set out how we will assist Syrians this year. Ireland will pledge significant further assistance for 2015.