Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1170. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that sufficient aid and assistance are being provided to those fleeing their countries where their lives are in danger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31300/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1172. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of State funds made available to assist refugees from the Syrian conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31478/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1185. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he has to provide additional humanitarian aid for Syria and adjoining regions due to the huge number of refugees living in appalling conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32260/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1170, 1172 and 1185 together.

The world is facing unprecedented levels of humanitarian crisis, driven by conflict, chronic instability, and economic and environmental shocks. There are now more than 59 million people globally who have been displaced, more than at any time since the Second World War.

Ireland is firmly committed to responding to the humanitarian needs of those affected by these crises. Since 2012, the Government has contributed over €24 million in flexible funding to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, to support its critical work in safe-guarding the rights and well-being of refugees worldwide. This is in addition to the targeted assistance Ireland provides in response to specific severe crises. So far in 2015, our humanitarian support has reached people in South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, and Yemen, among other places. Ireland has a particular commitment to ‘forgotten crises’, which may not receive much media attention but where the humanitarian needs are chronic.

Our most significant humanitarian contribution in recent years has been for people affected by the appalling conflict in Syria. The ongoing war in Syria, which is now in its fifth year, has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Some 240,000 Syrians have been killed, 7.6 million are displaced within Syria, and over 4 million have had to leave the country in search of safety. Some 12.2 million people, over half of Syria’s population, are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Ireland is particularly mindful of the impact of the crisis on Syria’s immediate neighbours – Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq – which have been generous hosts to hundreds of thousands of desperate people, putting huge strain on their own resources.

We have been supporting efforts to assist refugees affected by the Syria crisis since 2012. At the “Kuwait III” Pledging Conference in March 2015, Ireland pledged €12 million in humanitarian assistance for the Syrian crisis this year. Since 2012, Ireland has provided over €37 million in support for the Syrian people both within Syria and in neighbouring countries. The fulfilment of our 2015 pledge will bring that total to €41 million by the end of this year. Ireland’s humanitarian aid is implemented by our UN, NGO and Red Cross partners, and has helped to provide food, shelter and medical care to those who need it. I am very conscious of the difficult living conditions of Syrian refugees and displaced people, and I am determined that Ireland will continue to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people over the next year.

With so many humanitarian emergencies, of such size and severity, the effort to provide sufficient relief to those who need it has become an overwhelming global challenge. The World Humanitarian Summit, which the UN Secretary General has convened for May 2016 in Istanbul, will examine how the world can respond more effectively. Ireland is already playing a significant international role in preparing for this crucial Summit.