UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon to meet resettled refugees and members of the Syrian Community in Ireland on 25 May 2015

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon will visit Ireland from Sunday 24 May until Tuesday 26 May 2015 to accept the Tipperary Peace Award and meet with the Irish President, Taoiseach and key Ministers. 

Mr. Ban’s visit to Ireland marks the commencement of a programme of events to mark the 60th Anniversary of Ireland’s membership of the United Nations.

On Monday May 25, the UN Secretary General will meet with the Irish Minister for Justice and Equality, Ms. Frances Fitzgerald and resettled refugees and members of the Syrian community living in Ireland at an event in Farmleigh.  The event will provide an opportunity for the Secretary General to meet with refugees resettled into Ireland under the Irish resettlement programme and to meet with Syrians living in Ireland and their relatives admitted under the Syrian Humanitarian Admission Programme.

“The humanitarian crises in the Mediterranean and globally are shocking. The Irish resettlement programme has provided families admitted under the programme with a chance to rebuild their lives in a peaceful and secure environment. The UN Secretary General is looking forward to meeting these families and the Irish officials working with them to support their integration”, said Sophie Magennis, Head of Office, UNHCR Ireland.

UNHCR has welcomed Ireland’s pledge to resettle an additional 300 refugees as part of its response to the European Agenda on Migration. This brings to 617 the number of refugees that will be resettled into Ireland in the period 2014-2016. In addition, 114 persons are expected to be admitted under the Syrian Humanitarian Admission Programme (SHAP).

For further information contact:

• Jody Clarke, External Relations Associate +353 1 631 4614