Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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338. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Europe is doing enough to assist civilians in Syria particularly in Aleppo in view of the fact that the peace talks being facilitated by the USA and Russia are now disbanded; and his plans to raise this at the next EU Council as one of the most horrific humanitarian crises in recent history where civilians and children are being left without the most basic medical attention, are starving and actually dehydrated due to lack of even water being available [30527/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I share the Deputy's deep concern about and condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The conflict in Syria is the greatest humanitarian crisis of our generation. Since 2012, Ireland has provided a total of €62 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. At present, it is Ireland's largest response to any humanitarian crisis.

At last week's European Council, EU leaders strongly condemned the ongoing aerial attacks on Aleppo by the Syrian regime and Russia and urged both states to bring an immediate end to the atrocities being committed. They repeated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed that all necessary steps be taken to ensure humanitarian access to Syria. The need to ensure that those who have committed atrocities and breached humanitarian law are held to account was also highlighted. The question of sanctions in response to Russian and Syrian actions in Aleppo was also discussed. It was agreed that the EU would consider all available options should the atrocities against the people of Aleppo continue.

The Taoiseach stressed Ireland's concerns over the crisis in Syria and in Aleppo in particular. I would underline that Russia is bound by international law to ensure the protection of the civilian population and unimpeded humanitarian access.

Through our annual contributions to EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU's humanitarian response in Syria. The EU is a leading donor in the international response to the Syrian crisis, and has pledged to contribute €445 million in humanitarian assistance in 2016. The EU's funding inside Syria is focused on providing medical emergency relief, protection, food and nutritional assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter, health, and logistics services to civilians in need. Beyond the Syrian border, EU funding ensures that people fleeing the country will receive life-saving assistance such as health, food, shelter, water and sanitation services, and protection.

When I met with Commissioner Christos Stylianides, the European Commissioner with responsibility for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, in Dublin last month I was assured that EU officials are in daily contact with humanitarian partners on the ground, monitoring the situation as it develops and co-ordinating humanitarian activities with key partners and EU Member States. The Commissioner emphasised that the situation in Syria remains very unpredictable, underlining the need for humanitarian partners to remain engaged, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance can enable partners to respond quickly and appropriately to needs as they arise.

I discussed with the Commissioner the EU's new Humanitarian Initiative for Aleppo, which was launched in rapid response to the recent and disturbing escalation of the conflict in Aleppo. This joint EU-UN initiative includes two main elements: firstly, to facilitate the urgent delivery of basic life-saving assistance to civilians in eastern Aleppo; and secondly, to ensure the medical evacuations of wounded and sick, with a focus on women, children and the elderly.

Ireland and our EU partners will continue to monitor the situation closely, and given its complexity and severity, I would expect that Ireland will provide additional support for people affected by the crisis in the coming months.