Europe doubles emergency aid to face acute humanitarian needs in Syria

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Europe doubles emergency aid to face acute humanitarian needs in Syria

23-07-2012

The European Commission is doubling its aid for emergency medical care, shelter, food and water to those Syrians most affected by the ever-worsening crisis, both inside and outside the country, a press release said today. An additional €20 million of relief aid will bring the European Commission's total assistance in this crisis to €63 million (€40 million in humanitarian aid and €23 million in complementary assistance to support livelihoods). The EU Member States have contributed to date € 27.5 million in humanitarian aid.

Announcing the news, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, said: "With the violence spiralling out into a full blown civil conflict hundreds of thousands of Syrians are in a desperate situation. The needs are huge inside the country but also on the increase in the neighbouring countries which face a larger influx of Syrian refugees as I saw for myself when I met Syrian refugees in a camp at the Turkish border with Syria. The scaling up of the EU assistance is the most concrete expression of our solidarity with the Syrian people affected by the conflict."

The additional funding will go to projects, which provide food, water, sanitation, shelter, medical support and supplies, as well as psychological support for an estimated 1.5 million Syrians inside the country, as well as to Syrian refugees.

The Commissioner reiterated: "Once again, in the strongest of terms, I call on all parties to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers. The shooting at ambulances and the targeting of aid workers has to stop."

The Commission will continue to channel its funding through its humanitarian partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), who are uniquely placed to ensure that the delivery of humanitarian aid based on the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

In addition, €23 million were recently allocated to assist the Syrian people to cope with the unrest and its consequences including medium-long term assistance to Internally Displaced People or people who have fled to neighbouring countries. The Commission is also reserving extra funds for Syria and the consequences of the unrest, to be used inside Syria or in neighbouring countries. (EU Neighbourhood Info)

European Commission – humanitarian aid and civil protection

Commissioner Georgieva – website

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – EU's deep commitment to the Syrian people: Commissioner outlines help to human rights defenders, civil society, students and refugees (12-07-12)

European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection – Syrian crisis factsheet (June 2012)

European Commission – Factsheet - The European Union and Syria (July 2012)

European External Action Service – Frequently Asked Questions on EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime (September 2011)

EU Neighbourhood Info Centre webpage – Syria

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