Minister Costello announces €1.65 million to assist families affected by the crisis in Syria

"Ireland is showing leadership in response to the worsening crisis in Syria, which has left almost seven million people in urgent need of assistance."

The Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D, today announced €1.65 million in funding to support thousands of families forced to flee their homes because of the devastating conflict in Syria.

The funding, which is being provided to Concern, Goal and Oxfam, brings Ireland’s total support for communities afflicted by the conflict in Syria to almost €10 million.  

Announcing the funding today, World Refugee Day (20/06), Minister Costello said:

“Again Ireland is showing leadership in response to the worsening crisis in Syria, which has left almost seven million people in urgent need of assistance. This funding will enable Concern, Oxfam and Goal to provide clean water, sanitation, food and blankets to those who have been left homeless by the conflict both within Syria and in neighbouring countries.”

Indiscriminate violence and widespread human rights violations have left more than 93,000 people dead and driven a further 1.6 million people into neighbouring countries, where host communities are struggling to meet their needs.  The United Nations this month launched its largest ever appeal in response to the Syrian conflict, requesting $5.2 billion.

Minister Costello said:

“Countries such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon have shown immense generosity in hosting such large numbers of Syrians seeking refuge, but have come under great strain as a result. The assistance provided by Ireland will also support communities in these countries who are sheltering Syrian refugees.”

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., said Ireland is committed to assisting those affected by the conflict, while at the same time strongly supporting international efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Syrian crisis.

“I very much welcome US and Russian efforts to convene a peace conference in Geneva in the coming weeks. Clearly the international community must do more to try and reduce the violence and persuade all sides in Syria to commit to peace talks and promoting a democratic transition.

“The efforts to convene the Geneva II conference will hopefully be considerably advanced by this week’s agreement by the G8 in Enniskillen on the urgent need for a political solution.”

20 June 2013

For further information contact Fionnuala Quinlan, Press Office, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 01-408 2653 or 087-909 9975

Note for editors:

• Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas development programme. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Ireland’s total contribution to the Syrian crisis response will stand at €9.8 million following today’s announcement.
• The €1.65 million announced today will be provided to GOAL (€650,000), Oxfam (€500,000), Concern (€500,000).
• The breakdown of the €9.8 million in total support is as follows: GOAL (€650,000), Oxfam (€500,000), Concern (€500,000), IFRC (€500,000), International Committee of the Red Cross (€1,400,000), UNHCR (€2,200,000), World Food Programme (€950,000), the International Rescue Committee (€100,000), World Health Organisation (€300,000), UNRWA [UN agency for Palestine refugees] (€700,000), UNICEF [UN Children’s Fund] (€750,000) and OCHA’s Emergency Response Fund (€500,000). This total also includes supplies of non-food items from our stocks in Dubai through our Rapid Response Initiative. .
• The G8 leaders who met in Co. Fermanagh this week committed to providing an additional sum of almost $1.5 billion in support of the UN appeal for $5.2 billion.
• Since the uprising in Syria began in March 2011 some 93,000 people have been killed. The most urgent humanitarian needs inside the country are protection, health care, shelter, food and water and sanitation.
• The number of refugees and individuals awaiting registration as a result of the crisis currently stands at more than 1.6 million (388,935 in Turkey, 535,204 in Lebanon, 473,784 in Jordan, 159,393 in Iraq and 81,487 in Egypt).