Tánaiste announces additional Irish aid for Syrian refugees

Turkey visit: Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore will visit Ankara later today

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore has announced additional aid of €1m to help Syrian refugees in Turkey.

The Tánaiste, who is currently leading a four-day trade mission to Turkey, this morning visited a camp for those fleeing the violence in Syria near the Turkish-Syrian border.

The fundng of €500,000 each to the International Federation of the Red Cross and the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, brings Ireland’s total response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria to €8.15million.

Speaking in Nizip in Turkey, Mr Gilmore said he wanted to demonstrate Ireland's support for the generous humanitarian response of the Turkish Government in providing for these people.

" When I met with Foreign Minister Davutoglu yesterday I told him that Ireland recognises Turkey’s generosity at this time of great tragedy for the Syrian people, and I urged him to maintain Turkey's open-door policy,"  the Tánaiste said.

It's understood that Mr Gilmore will travel to Ankara later today for a series of high-level political meetings with Enterprise Ireland client companies and other trade-related events. 

---