Syria aid appeal: More is needed

A MAJOR UN donors’ conference that aims to raise billions of dollars for Syria has opened in Kuwait, with experts warning of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.

The United Nations has launched an appeal to raise $8.4bn (€7.7bn) this year.

The EU announced a pledge of nearly €1.1bn in humanitarian aid. Ireland will provide €12m this year in funding and emergency supplies, bringing the total value of our response to the crisis in Syria to over €43m.

But, generous as those donations may appear, they may not be enough.

With the conflict now in its fifth year, almost half of all Syrians have been forced to flee their homes and, according to Oxfam, the funds so far pledged by the international community are woefully inadequate.

Perhaps, despite our economic woes, we should consider giving more, if only to recognise the acute dangers that aid workers face by working inside Syria. Two Goal aid workers were seriously injured last weekend following an air strike in northern Syria.

Given that they are prepared to risk their lives, should we not risk a few more euro?

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