Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, speaking with UNICEF Ireland’s Executive Director, Peter Power, raised the issue of child protection in the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan and in Syria due to the on-going.

Mr. Power came before the Foreign Affairs Committee to brief the members on the humanitarian crises in the Philippines and Syria, and particularly the effects they are having on children.

Deputy Crowe said:

“The on-going humanitarian crisis in the Philippines and Syria are having a disaster effect on the local population.

“The scales of the two crises are huge. At present Typhoon Haiyan has killed approximately 4,000 people and left 4 million Filipinos displaced and in need of humanitarian aid. The conflict in Syria has killed over 100,000 and created nearly 2.2 million refugees.

“Due to the chaos in both countries, children are extremely vulnerable and it is vital that they get the support, assistance and protection they so urgently need.

“As both disasters have displaced families and destroyed schools, Filipino and Syrian children are at huge risk of hunger, sexual exploitation, being drawn into child labour, or in the case of Syria, becoming child soldiers.

“I commend the work of UNICEF and other groups which are working extremely hard in incredibly difficult circumstances.

“I also commend the Irish government for giving over €3 million in emergency aid to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, and almost €14 million to the international humanitarian response to the Syrian conflict.

“The general Irish public have also been incredibly generous in their donations to the humanitarian appeals for both crises.”

ENDS