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Hussein Malla/AP/PA
Syrian children outside their tents at a refugee camp in the eastern Lebanese border town of Arsal.
# Syria
Ireland is providing another €12 million in Syrian aid
This brings the total contribution by Ireland since 2011 to over €26 million.
MINISTER FOR TRADE and development Joe Costello today announced that Ireland will provide a further €12 million in funding for emergency supplies to assist thousands of families in Syria.
This latest funding announcement will bring Ireland’s overall contribution since 2011 to just over €26 million.
The junior minister made the announcement at a major humanitarian pledging conference for Syria, chaired by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon in Kuwai. The situation in Syria has been described by the UN as the greatest humanitarian crisis in modern history, with more than nine million people in urgent need of assistance.
Today’s conference is aimed at raising $6.5 billion in aid to assist agencies in delivering food, water, sanitation, medical supplies and other essentials.
The funding will be provided from the 2014 Irish aid budget of €600 million, through its partners on the ground including Oxfam, GOAL and Concern.
Speaking ahead of the conference today, Costello said the humanitarian crisis in Syria “is a growing threat to regional stability and a major human tragedy”. “Ireland calls on all sides to provide unhindered access for humanitarian assistance, to protect civilians and frontline workers and to fully respect international humanitarian law,” he said.
“This funding will provide support to the millions of people displaced in Syria and the millions who have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey,” Costello added. “The funds will ensure that food, education, health and other essential services are provided to Syrian refugee families.”
Read: UNICEF calls for world to protect Syrian children from ‘broken futures’>
Read: Concerns for five aid workers taken away in Syria>
