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Ireland pledges €23 million in humanitarian funding for Syria

Ireland today pledged €23 million for humanitarian funding in 2022 to support those affected by the crisis in Syria. The pledge was made at the sixth Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ today.

This funding will support a range of humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, NGOs and the Red Cross, to deliver critical, life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable in Syria and in the wider region. Since 2012, Ireland has provided over €204 million in humanitarian funding to meet the needs of those affected by the crisis.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Simon Coveney, T.D., said:

The terrible conflict in Syria continues and humanitarian needs are at their highest ever level. Twelve million people in Syria are food insecure, including three-quarters of the population of the north-west."

“Although the new humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unprecedented fresh demands, we urge all donors to maintain their support to the Syrian Crisis response. Ireland will continue to support those efforts and has maintained its level of support from 2021, pledging over €23 million today."

Last year the UN Security Council collectively adopted Resolution 2585, which recalled the need for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Ireland, working with Norway on this issue as Security Council co-penholders, supports the use of all modalities to supply aid to Syrians in need. Millions of people in the North West rely on the UN’s cross border operation for crucial assistance and it is clear that presently there is no alternative that can replicate the scale and scope of that operation."

We know that only a sustainable, Syrian-owned political process can bring a just and lasting end to this conflict.”

Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Mr Colm Brophy, T.D., welcomed the announcement:

After 11 years of war, humanitarian needs in Syria are at an all-time high. Half the population face severe food shortages, while 6.9 million Syrians are internally displaced. This further €23 million in essential humanitarian assistance will support our humanitarian partners to alleviate the suffering of those who have borne the brunt of this crisis for far too long."

“At a time when growing humanitarian needs across the world compete for our attention, Ireland will not forget the people of Syria. We urge the international community to stand with the people of Syria.”

Notes to editors

  • Ireland has pledged €23 million in 2022. This funding will come from the Department of Foreign Affairs (€15 million) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (€8m) through their partnership with the UN World Food Programme.
  • Since 2012, Ireland has provided over €204 million in humanitarian funding in response to the Syria crisis, both within Syria and in neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.
  • Eleven years of crisis in Syria have inflicted immense suffering on the civilian population, who have borne the brunt of widespread destruction of infrastructure, explosive ordnance contamination, and grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. In 2022, 14.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, an increase of 1.2 million from 2021, and including 6.9 million internally displaced persons – the highest number in the world.
  • The European Union will host the sixth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” on 9-10 May 2022. On 10 May, the in-person meeting will gather around 75 delegations from neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, partner countries, EU Member States and international organisations, including the UN. The conference will address key political, humanitarian and regional development aspects of the Syrian crisis and political commitments and funding pledges will be made.
  • Since 2011, the European Union and its Member States have been the largest donors of humanitarian and resilience assistance to Syria and the region with €27.4 billion in response to the Syrian crisis.
  • In July 2021, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to renew a resolution allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered cross-border from Turkey into Northwest Syria, for a period of twelve months. Millions of people are dependent on this Crossborder resolution which is due for renewal in July this year. The maintenance of this crucial aid corridor has been and will continue to be a focus of Ireland’s advocacy on the Security Council.

ENDS

Press Office

10 May 2022

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