Sir, – As the world watches while yet another conflict unfolds with horrific levels of suffering in Ukraine, this month marks another grim anniversary of the conflict in Syria.
After 11 years of war, humanitarian needs in Syria are still rising. Over 5.7 million registered refugees, including almost 2.7 million children, live outside of Syria, the majority across the region in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, while inside Syria, 14.6 million people depend on humanitarian assistance.
Without a political solution, the people of Syria are unable to move on with their lives. Funding for humanitarian assistance in Syria and the Middle East is increasingly stretched, making life even harder for people who have few other options as they hope year after year that the end of the war might be in sight.
Ireland must continue to support humanitarian programmes in Syria and the wider region and advocate for the safety and security of Syrian refugees.
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The Oireachtas Joint Committee for Foreign Affairs meets today (March 10th), with Minister for Foreign Affairs Coveney and Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid Colm Brophy, and we commend Ireland’s humanitarian efforts as a donor and as an advocate for peace. – Yours, etc,
DOMINIC MacSORLEY,
Chief Executive,
Concern Worldwide;
SIOBHAN WALSH,
Chief Executive,
Goal;
JIM CLARKEN,
Chief Executive,
Oxfam Ireland;
CAOIMHE de BARRA,
Chief Executive,
Trócaire;
GILLIAN BARNETT,
Chief Executive,
World Vision Ireland,
Dublin 6.