Irish aid agencies to tell Oireachtas Committee of immense suffering of millions in Syria following a decade of war

The suffering in war-torn Syria is at its worst point in the ten-year-long conflict, with millions now in dire need of humanitarian assistance, a number of Irish humanitarian aid agencies will tell an Oireachtas Committee today (Tuesday March 9th).

The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence will hear that more than 13 million Syrian people are now in desperate need of some type of aid, with humanitarian organisations working inside Syria facing “an impossible task” of reaching growing numbers of desperate people with limited assistance.

Addressing the Committee ahead of the 10th anniversary of the Syrian conflict the aid agencies will also highlight how the chronic humanitarian situation has been worsened due to a deteriorating economic situation, a surge in cases of COVID-19 and high inflation leading to food and basic commodity price increases.  80 per cent of Syrians are now estimated to live below the poverty line, and 9.3 million people are dependent on food assistance.

In a joint statement in advance of today’s Committee meeting Oxfam Ireland, World Vision Ireland, GOAL, Concern Worldwide and Trócaire, say that Ireland, with a seat on the UN Security Council, is uniquely placed to play a role in the Syria crisis.

“Ireland, a newly elected member of the UN Security Council, is playing an influential role in efforts to resolve the crisis. An immediate priority for Ireland is ensuring humanitarian access is protected.

“With Norway, Ireland is leading on negotiations to renew the UN Security Council Resolution and prevent the closure of the only remaining UN access point for humanitarian aid from neighbouring Turkey into north-west Syria. This access point is a lifeline for over four million people many of whom depend solely on aid to survive.”

The agencies said while the Irish government and the Irish public have been consistently generous in their support of the aid effort, global humanitarian funding is not keeping pace with increasing need.

“Non-governmental organisations working inside Syria have an impossible task of reaching growing numbers of desperate people with limited assistance. Aid workers face enormous security challenges as Syria ranks high in the list of the most dangerous places to deliver humanitarian assistance. More than 400 aid workers have lost their lives in Syria since the conflict started."

The statement added: “As we mark the tenth anniversary of conflict in Syria, civilians continue to endure unimaginable levels of suffering. What is especially heart breaking is the impact on children who have suffered grave violation, who know nothing but war and who have been denied access to education.

“Today, 13 million Syrians are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, living in crowded camps or cramped and dangerous urban dwellings, both inside the country and in the wider region. They are exposed to harsh winters and intense summer heat. Water and sewage infrastructure is very poor, making basic hygiene such as hand washing during this time of COVID-19 difficult.”

An estimated 3 million people now have some form of disability or lifelong impairment due to a combination of hostilities and a health system shattered by years of war.

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Contact

Caroline Reid | caroline.reid@oxfam.org | 087 912 3165