Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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154. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking along with EU and UN partners to bring a total cessation to the seven-year civil war in Syria; the steps he is taking to support humanitarian initiatives to help families and individuals in the worst affected districts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/18]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the responses to the UN Security Council resolution on a UN-mandated truce, particularly in view of the appalling humanitarian tragedy in Ghouta. [14082/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 168 together.

The situation in Syria remains of utmost concern. The conflict, which is now in its eighth year, has cost over 400,000 lives. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including close to 3 million people trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Over 6 million people are displaced internally, and a further 5.5 million have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. The recent increase in violence in Syria, in particular the vicious siege of Eastern Ghouta, underscores the extent to which an end to the violence is urgently needed in order to relieve the suffering of the Syrian people.

Ireland fully supports the UN-led political negotiations to end the conflict based on the 2012 Geneva Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254. The EU provides direct assistance to the UN-led Geneva peace talks and has launched, in coordination with the UN, an initiative to develop political dialogue with key actors from the region to identify common ground.

I was present at the UN Security Council briefing on Eastern Ghouta in New York last month at which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appealed for an immediate suspension of violence in Eastern Ghouta to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid, and for evacuations. Ireland strongly welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2401 calling for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access on 24 February. Ireland regrets that this has not yet been implemented and calls on the international community to redouble efforts to ensure the immediate and full implementation.

EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Syria at their informal meeting on 15 February and again at the Foreign Affairs Council meetings on 26 February and 19 March. The EU and its Member States have to date mobilised more than €10.4 billion for humanitarian, stabilisation and resilience assistance inside Syria and in neighbouring countries, making the EU the largest single donor to the effort. The EU hosted a donors’ conference for Syria in April 2017 at which pledges totalling €5.6 billion were made, and will host another donors’ conference for Syria in April 2018.

Since 2012, Ireland has contributed over €90 million to the humanitarian effort in response to the conflict in Syria, including €25 million in 2017 alone. Through our annual contributions to EU Institutions, Ireland also supports the EU’s humanitarian response to the Syria crisis. Ireland also supports a broad range of efforts to ensure full legal accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he and his EU colleagues have contacted their Turkish counterparts to request the immediate cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Turkish forces from Kurdish cities and towns in north west Syria, in particular Idlib province; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13604/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The conflict in Syria, and the destabilising impact it has had on the wider region, remain a source of deep concern. Clearly, a comprehensive, inclusive political solution to the conflict is urgently needed, both to end the suffering of the Syrian people and to prevent any further turmoil in the Middle East.

Ireland fully supports the UN-led political negotiations to end the conflict based on the 2012 Geneva Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254. The EU provides direct assistance to the UN-led Geneva peace talks and has launched, in coordination with the UN, an initiative to develop political dialogue with key actors from the region to identify common ground.

Ireland strongly welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2401 calling for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access on 24 February. Ireland regrets that this has not yet been implemented and calls on the international community to redouble efforts to ensure the immediate and full implementation.

I am particularly concerned by the impact of the recent fighting in the Afrin region, including the displacement of over 100,000 civilians. Officials from my Department met with the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland in early February shortly after the commencement of the Turkish operation. They conveyed Ireland’s overarching concern for the protection of civilians, including in the context of this particular operation, and urged caution to avoid escalating the conflict any further.

Ireland understands Turkey’s concern about the conflict raging on its southern border. Turkey has borne a heavy burden in terms of knock-on effects of the conflict, including in terms of migration and spill-over of violence. However, our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides of the border, especially displaced and vulnerable communities.

I call on all parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid any further exacerbation of this already fragile situation and to cooperate in the effort to find a political solution under UN auspices which alone can bring lasting peace to Syria.