€3 In Humanitarian Funding For Syria Announced

Ireland is to provide €3 million of humanitarian funding in response to the ongoing crisis in Syria.

The funding was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, and the Minister of State for the Diaspora and Overseas Development Aid, Joe McHugh.

Minister Flanagan said: "The Syrian conflict and its harrowing effects on the people of Syria continues to dominate the agenda of foreign affairs ministers at our gatherings. Last Monday at the Foreign Affairs Council EU Foreign Ministers expressed strong support for the UN's efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict and for the UN work to break the sieges which are denying basic humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of Syrians.

"While this work is happening, civilians are in dire straits. Life inside Syria has become almost impossible, and 13.5 million people there are in need of humanitarian assistance. We must ensure that these people are not forgotten, so €2 million of today's €3 million in Syria funding is directed to organisations which are working inside the country, in an appallingly difficult environment.

"I reiterate my call on parties to the conflict to grant sustained humanitarian access to all populations, and to allow for the unhindered delivery of vital humanitarian relief. I condemn the cowardly attacks on hospitals and medical facilities, and I am appalled that convoys of medicines, food supplies, and even baby food have been prevented from reaching their destinations."

The funding includes €1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross and €1 million for the UN's Turkey Humanitarian Pooled Fund.

(MH/LM)