Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brendan Smith TD has welcomed the announcement from the Department of Foreign Affairs that further aid will be provided to Syria and neighbouring countries in an effort to address the humanitarian crisis there.
Deputy Smith stated, “This latest announcement of additional aid to assist in addressing the refugee and humanitarian crisis on Europe’s borders is a welcome development.
“I have been consistently raising the crisis in Syria in the Dáil in recent years through Parliamentary Questions and directly with the Minister in Dáil debates and the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee. Fianna Fáil has sought to highlight the plight of ordinary Syrian citizens who continue to bear the brunt of the savage civil war which is destroying their country. The appalling loss of life and displacement of people must be a wakeup call for the international community.
“It is imperative for all international agencies, including the UN and the European Union to co-ordinate, as best they can, the response to this crisis which has left millions of people in a most desperate situation. Political leaders must work with aid agencies to find a common comprehensive solution to the current crisis.
“The international community must also work to solve the underlying cause of the refugee crisis. The Syrian civil war, along with other regional conflicts in the Middle East, is forcing people to flee from their homes. A political solution must be achieved to bring peace to these areas.”