EU Grants EUR 180 M in Fresh Aid to Syrian Refugees

EU | December 5, 2014, Friday // 09:53|  views

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Photo: EPA

The European Commission adopted on Thursday an EUR 180 million package aimed at alleviating the ongoing crisis in Syria, as well as its spillover effects in neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon.

The aid is to address the long-term needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, the press service of the European Commission reports.

In particular the package provides for education of children and young adults in line with the UNICEF-funded “No Lost Generation” Initiative, as well as stimulating the economic development of refugees and their host communities.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the EU can not simply stand and watch the suffering of Syrian people without taking any action.

Mogherini expressed the EU's willingness of helping Syrian people and the neighbouring countries hosting the refugees, as well as finding a lasting political solution to the crisis.

EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn similarly expressed his support for the Syrian people, as well as those of Jordan and Lebanon.

Hahn added that the funds will provide 2.5 million children in the region with education and skills, which will be needed in the restoration of Syria once the conflict is over.

Out of the total EUR 180 million, EUR 41 million will be allocated to internally displaced people in Syria.

Jordan and Lebanon will receive respectively EUR 66 million and EUR 73 million for hosting Syrian refugees.

According to the Commission Jordan and Lebanon host respectively 630 000 and 1.1 Syrian refugees.

The latest statistics reveal the destructive and lasting impact of the Syrian crisis on the region.

As of November 2014, four years since the beginning of the conflict, 6.5 million Syrians are internally displaced, while 3.2 million have sought refuge to neighbouring countries.

The conflict has claimed the lives of 191 000 peoples, while more than 1 million have been war-wounded.

The crisis has worsened with the recent advance of Islamic State (IS) in Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

So far the EU has granted EUR 2.9 billion in aid, making it the largest world donor in addressing the consequences of the crisis.

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Tags: EU, Commission, Syria, conflict, crisis, aid, refugees, internally displaced, Jordan, Lebanon, Islamic state, Federica Mogherini, Johannes Hahn

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