Ireland pledges €25m to the Syria Crisis in 2020

Speaking today at the Brussels conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney T.D. pledged a further €25 million to the humanitarian response to the crisis, bringing Ireland’s contribution since 2012 to over €168 million.

The Minster said: “As we approach a decade of conflict in Syria, over 11.7 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, while over 5.6 million Syrian refugees are displaced in the region.

"Ireland remains committed to the critical life-saving response inside Syria and to the refugee response needs in neighbouring countries. Therefore in 2020 Ireland will contribute a further €25 million to the humanitarian response to the Syria crisis.”

The Minister added:

“Those who have perpetrated appalling violence must be held to account. The vast human tragedy in Syria can only be brought to an end by negotiation. I call on all parties to engage seriously with United Nations efforts, based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Safe, unconstrained access for humanitarian workers is required: without it, vital aid cannot reach all people who need it most. I want to see the renewal of Security Council Resolution 2504, to allow much needed aid to cross borders and which would increase the number of crossings for vital humanitarian supplies to freely reach people at risk in North East Syria.”

The Minister concluded:

“The vast majority of Syrian refugees are located in the neighbouring countries of Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, where they have been hosted in a spirit of generosity and compassion. It is our duty as an international community to show support and solidarity for their efforts.”

ENDS

• to support the humanitarian response in Syria the EU and the United Nations are convening the Brussels IV Syria Conference, "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region". The conference aims to offer continued support to UN efforts for a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian conflict, mobilise necessary financial support for Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, as well as provide a unique platform for dialogue with civil society.
• the Syrian conflict has continued for almost a decade and humanitarian needs remain acute. 11.7 million people in Syria remain in need of some form of humanitarian aid and protection. Some 6.2 million people continue to live in protracted displacement inside Syria, 2.8 million of whom are children.
• in addition, more than 6.6 million people have fled Syria. Currently there are 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, 910,600 in Lebanon, 654,700 in Jordan, 245,800 in Iraq and 129,200 in Egypt. Since the crisis began in 2011, close to a million have fled to Europe. Many families have been displaced multiple times, further depleting their limited coping mechanisms and exacerbating vulnerability.
• today’s pledge will bring Ireland’s humanitarian assistance to the Syria Crisis to more than €168 million since 2012 – our largest response to any single crisis. Ireland’s assistance in 2020 will be channelled through a range of trusted partners including United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs. Activities supported will cover Syria and the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.