Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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423. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that the international community must provide humanitarian assistance and support a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict in Syria; if Ireland in the role of co-penholder on the Syrian humanitarian file within in the UN Security Council can help to achieve these objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12523/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The conflict in Syria continues to generate significant humanitarian needs and to have profound repercussions for the overall stability of the entire region. More than 13 million people are in need inside the country and more than 5.6 million refugees in neighbouring countries. The onset of winter and the threat Covid sees many millions of people in an enormously vulnerable position

Protecting those in need is our primary focus and obligation. Ireland has contributed almost €170 million in humanitarian assistance to the Syria crisis to date, our largest response to a single crisis. I continue to call on the international community to do all that it can to ensure that extensive needs of the Syrian people can continue to be met.

In order to bring this humanitarian crisis to an end, we need a sustainable end to the conflict in Syria. I strongly support all efforts to bring resolve the conflict, led by UN Special Envoy Pederson under the framework of Security Council 2254. As we approach a decade of conflict, I call on all parties to the conflict to redouble their efforts towards the political solution that the people of Syria so badly deserve.

As noted, Ireland is co-penholder on the Syrian humanitarian file on the Security Council with Norway. In this role we will continue to strongly advocate on the Council that humanitarian assistance must reach all people in need in Syria.