Ireland pledges €25 million to the Syria Crisis in 2019
Press release
14 March 2019
Ireland pledges €25 million to the Syria Crisis in 2019
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. has reiterated Ireland’s support for those most affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria.
Today at the Brussels conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, Ireland pledged a further €25 million in humanitarian assistance which will help address pressing needs. This brings Ireland’s total contribution to the humanitarian response for the Syria crisis to over €140 million since 2012, our largest response to any single crisis.
The Tánaiste said:
“The conflict in Syria has created one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time, affecting both Syria and its neighbours. 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 2019 we will disburse a further €25 million to the Syria Crisis.”
The Tánaiste added:
“The roots of this humanitarian tragedy lie in conflict, and it is vital to bring this conflict to a close. Ireland fully supports the work of the UN Special Envoy and his efforts to bring an end to conflict, based on the 2012 Geneva Communiqué and UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We need a long term, sustainable solution to this conflict.”
The Tánaiste concluded:
“Ireland also wishes to acknowledge the efforts of those countries, particularly the neighbouring countries of Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, who have so generously hosted millions of Syrian refugees. Each of these countries, and their people, have extended a compassionate response to human need. It is our duty as an international community to show support and solidarity for their efforts.”
ENDS
Press Office
14 March 2019
Notes to Editor:
- To support the humanitarian response in Syria, the EU and the United Nations are convening the Brussels III Syria Conference, "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region". The conference aims “to further mobilise the international community behind efforts to support the Syrian people and achieve a lasting political solution to the Syria crisis, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254”.
- The crisis is entering its ninth year 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, 2.8 million of whom are children, continue to live in protracted displacement inside Syria.
- In addition, more than 6.6 million people have fled Syria. Currently there are 3.4 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, 949,000 in Lebanon, 672,000 in Jordan, 252,000 in Iraq and 133,000 in Egypt. Since the crisis began in 2011, close to a million people 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 €140 million since 2012 – our largest response to any single crisis. Ireland’s assistance in 2019 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.
