EU Increases Syria Aid by EUR 215 M

The European Union will increase its aid to those affected by the civil war in Syria by EUR 215 M, according to a media statement of the European Commission.

A total of EUR 50 M is to go to humanitarian aid and a total of EUR 165 M is to be spent on long-term development projects.

The new funding is to provide relief inside and outside Syria, reducing pressure on its borders and in neighboring countries.

It will also help respond to the needs of the tens of thousands of refugees fleeing to Turkey in recent days, the largest wave of displacement since the beginning of the conflict.

It is estimated that more than 6.4 million people have been displaced by the conflict inside Syria while more than three million refugees have been registered, according to the EC.

The humanitarian consequences have reached an unprecedented scale with an estimated 10.8 million people inside Syria needing assistance. Out of these, more than 6.4 million people are internally displaced.

"The conflict in Syria continues unabated, and the needs of the Syrian people grow inexorably," said Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

"The people of Syria are being terrorized by this inhuman conflict. I warmly commend Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey Jordan and Egypt for their generosity towards Syrian refugees but it is clear that the capacities in neighboring countries to absorb so many people are stretched to their limits. In the last few days alone more than a hundred thousand people have crossed into Turkey, whose government deserves our deep gratitude for keeping its border open," she added.

"Once again, I call for an end to the fighting, for all parties to commit themselves to reaching a political solution and, until such a time arrives, to abide by International Humanitarian Law and protect civilians and the humanitarian workers assisting them," Georgieva stated.

?tefan F?le, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said: “Capacities in neighboring countries are stretched to their limits: I would like to reiterate the European citizens' solidarity with all of those affected by the Syrian crisis and the EU’s commitment to support the governments and host communities of Syria's neighbors so they can deal effectively with the increasing flow of refugees”.

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