Minister Sherlock announces €12 million for humanitarian crisis in Syria
Over €43 million supplied since start of conflict
Ireland will provide €12 million in 2015 in funding and emergency supplies to help meet the urgent needs of those affected by the Syria conflict.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion, and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock, TD, at a major humanitarian pledging conference for Syria in Kuwait.
The Conference is designed to raise €7.7 billion to help nearly 18 million people in Syria and the region in 2015. Already this year, Ireland has provided €3.3 million of this funding to the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR), UNICEF, and the World Food Programme to ensure that their vital work can continue.
Speaking from the pledging conference in Kuwait, Minister Sherlock said:
“The conflict in Syria has cost more than 200,000 lives and left more than 12 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
“Ireland’s contribution of €12 million in 2015 will help alleviate the terrible suffering of the Syrian people by funding life-saving humanitarian supplies and urgently-needed health, education, water and sanitation services, as well as measures to protect children and vulnerable people.
“This funding underlines Ireland’s continued commitment to responding to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and in neighbouring countries for millions of the most vulnerable Syrians, including refugees and internally displaced persons.
“It will bring the total value of the Irish Government’s response to the crisis in Syria to over €43 million.”
Minister Sherlock also spoke of the continued suffering of civilians and humanitarian workers:
“The Syrian people continue to endure extreme hardship and suffering. The ongoing conflict has placed the civilian population in great danger.
“I am particularly concerned about the threat to the safety of the extremely brave Syrians who are assisting their neighbours and communities with humanitarian relief. They face huge personal risks in their daily lives.”
Minister Sherlock also paid tribute to those GOAL workers who were injured over the weekend in the conflict:
“I was greatly saddened to hear that three people working with GOAL have been injured in the ongoing conflict and my thoughts are with them and their families. I want to underline the need for all parties to this conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to respect the safety and security of frontline humanitarian workers.”
The funding from Irish Aid will be provided to international humanitarian agencies on the ground including the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGO partners.