Speech minister Ploumen op Syrië-conferentie
Statement by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Lilianne Ploumen, on supporting the resilience of host countries and refugees in the context of the Syria crisis.
(Deze toespraak is alleen in het Engels beschikbaar.)
Thank you, Commissioner Hahn.
The war in Syria is a manmade tragedy of staggering proportions. As also stated by my colleague, Foreign Minister Bert Koenders this morning, yesterday’s chemical attack adds another pitch-black page to this inhumane conflict. I am particularly disturbed by reports that regime fighter planes then proceeded to strike medical clinics administering aid to the victims of these gas attacks.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are under siege, with humanitarian workers unable to reach them. In fact, aid workers themselves have now become targets. Let us never accept such violations of human rights and international law.
As the war in Syria enters its seventh year, millions of refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq have no prospect of returning home. They need continued humanitarian access and protection.
In the absence of a political solution for Syria, we also need economic solutions for its neighbours. Along with humanitarian aid, we need ways for Syrian refugees and their hosts to support themselves. In other words, we need jobs.
Donors have been pledging their support to livelihood programmes. But we need to do more: we need to fully involve the private sector. While many projects provide education and training, they don’t create long-term jobs. They help prepare people for the labour market, but the other side of the equation is often lacking: the companies that are supposed to hire these people.
Last year, I talked to CEOs of Dutch companies operating in Turkey. They have opened up more than 200 jobs to Syrian refugees. I urge you all to do the same: talk to the CEOs of companies investing in countries with large numbers of refugees. They can tell you what they need to be able to recruit refugees and local employees. Often, the jobs are already there, but the training and education programmes on offer don’t match the job requirements.
Governments can provide incentives and create the right environment for businesses to invest and generate jobs. Take the food sector in Jordan. With my government’s support, Jordanian and Dutch companies are working together to sharpen the technical skills of Jordanians and Syrians. They’re building better greenhouses, using technologies that save precious water. This will result in 600 long-term jobs for Syrian refugees and Jordanians. And thousands more may follow as Jordan’s export prospects improve.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Last year in London the Netherlands pledged 125 million euros to address immediate humanitarian needs and improve the resilience of refugees in Syria and the region. We disbursed all of it. And we spent an additional 131 million euros to improve education, job opportunities and support host communities. For 2017 and beyond, I can firmly pledge another 190 million euros for humanitarian aid and supporting resilience of refugees and their host communities.
I urge others to honour their commitments too. And I encourage all of you, governments and NGOs, to engage with companies – the other side of the equation. Only real partnerships with the private sector will provide the jobs the region needs.
Thank you.