Additional Funding Announced For Victims Of Syria Crisis

An additional €2.95 million in funding has been secured to support victims of the continuing Syria crisis. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan, and the Minister of State for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock, announced that the funding will be given to Ireland's UN partners to help deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance within Syria and in the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees.

Announcing the funding, which will be drawn from Irish Aid's humanitarian budget, Minster Flanagan said: "Over the last five years, the situation for Syrians in their home country has deteriorated steadily, with more than 250,000 people already having been killed, while millions more have been forced to flee their homes.

"Ireland has been responding to this crisis since 2012, providing needs-based humanitarian assistance through our UN, Red Cross and NGO partners. Earlier this year, Ireland pledged €12 million in support for the Syrian people for 2015.

"As this crisis has continued to spread, it is appropriate that we now step up our response. I am pleased that today's funding announcement of a further €2.95 million will bring to €13 million the humanitarian support we will have provided to Syria this year, bringing our total support since 2012 to €42 million."

Minster Sherlock added: "When I visited Jordan in October I had the opportunity to meet with Syrian refugees, and was struck by their desire to see their children getting an education there and building a future, but for many this was beyond reach.

"Children who are fleeing war have no hand or control in their fate. Education is a global right and one we must ensure is delivered in these most challenging of situations

"Under this package of funding, €1 million will support UNICEF's work under the 'No Lost Generation' initiative, which delivers education and child protection Syrian children, giving them and their parents hope for the future.

"Ireland is able to support the development of water and sanitation facilities at Azraq camp in Jordan, since the need for this was clear during my visit there."

In addition to the Syria funding announced today, a further €1.25 million has been allocated go to Ireland's UN and Red Cross partners in Yemen where 80% of the population – over 20 million people – are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

In addition, €250,000 will go to support UNICEF's work in Iraq, where it is working with vulnerable women and children, since Iraq now has one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world.

This brings total humanitarian funding announced today for the Middle East region to €4.45 million.

(MH/LM)