The Irish Government is to announce €3m in additional funding to deal with the impact of the Syria crisis.
Minister of State for International Development Joe McHugh is on an official three-day visit to Jordan and Lebanon.
He will meet with ministers from both countries to discuss the refugee crisis, and the development of bilateral relations.
€1.5m will be provided to the UNOCHA Humanitarian Pooled Fund for Jordan, and €1.5m will be provided to the UNOCHA Humanitarian Pooled Fund for Lebanon.
This funding is part of Ireland’s humanitarian response to the Syria crisis in 2017.
This latest pledge will bring Ireland's total financial contribution to dealing with the effects of the crisis in Syria to over €70m since 2012.
Ireland's funding goes to Syrian people affected by the crisis and those who are displaced to neighbouring countries.
Jordan and Lebanon are currently hosting large numbers of refugees fleeing the conflict.
Visiting Irish troops
Minister McHugh will meet with Syrian refugees in both countries to learn first-hand about their experiences of the conflict, and as refugees.
He will also meet with representatives of the Jordanian and Lebanese governments to learn how they are providing support to refugees, and the impact the crisis is having on their countries.
He will hold talks with United Nations agencies and the ICRC, visit their projects and see how Irish Aid funding is being used on the ground.
And in Lebanon, the minister will visit projects run by Trócaire and Concern - assisted by Irish Aid funding.
Minister McHugh will also visit 336 Irish troops from the 109th Infantry Battalion who are currently serving with the UN peace-keeping force, UNIFIL, in Southern Lebanon.
Before leaving Ireland he said: “Ireland is committed to supporting those affected by the crisis in Syria.
“The displacement of millions inside Syria and the flight of millions to neighbouring countries underlines the horrific violence and the appalling suffering caused by this conflict.
“This visit to Jordan and Lebanon is to witness first-hand the situation for Syrian refugees in these countries, and how this has impacted on host communities.”
