Sir, – Governments from around the world meet in London on Thursday (February 4th) to make pledges of financial assistance to support people affected by the crisis in Syria.
While governments will make ambitious commitments, sadly many of these pledges will never be realised. The UN appeal to support people affected by the war in Syria last year was only 56 per cent funded, leaving a shortfall of $3.1 billion. The 2014 appeal was only 58 per cent funded, while the appeals for 2013 and 2012 were 73 per cent and 70 per cent funded. This reflects the serious lack of engagement from the international community on this crisis.
The fact that the amounts sought by the UN to support the Syrian people have risen from $836 million in 2012 to $7.7 billion in 2016 illustrates the extent to which the humanitarian crisis caused by the Syrian war has escalated. Approximately 11 million people have been displaced by this war, of whom 6.6 million remain inside Syria. The vast majority of Syrians who have fled their homeland remain in the neighbouring countries.
Ireland has so far lived up to its funding commitments. We hope that the Government uses this conference to urge others to do likewise. – Yours, etc,
ÉAMONN MEEHAN,
Trócaire,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
