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Germany to provide a further 10 million euros in humanitarian aid for Syria
The German Government will use this extra money to support humanitarian aid operations in Lebanon and Jordan. Some 2 million people in Syria have been displaced internally and over 680,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
At the invitation of United Nations Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon a donors conference is taking place today (30 January) in Kuwait for victims of the conflict in Syria and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.
The German Government is donating a further 10 million euros for humanitarian aid operations in Syria and neighbouring countries.
In this connection Foreign Minister Westerwelle commented today (30 January) as follows:
“The civil war in Syria continues with undiminished brutality. More and more people are fleeing the violence, hunger and cold. So there can be no let‑up in the international community’s efforts to help the victims of the violence and the refugees.
The assistance Germany is giving is intended to alleviate their suffering. Working with our partners, we want to demonstrate practical solidarity.”
The German Government will use this extra money to support humanitarian aid operations run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA) in Lebanon and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Lebanon and Jordan. Some of it will also be used to fund humanitarian projects run by German non‑governmental organizations.
According to UN estimates, over 4 million people in Syria are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. Some 2 million people in Syria have been displaced internally and over 680,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, in particular Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. The UN appeal for Syria is calling for around US$ 500 million to meet humanitarian needs inside the country up to June 2013. Around US$ 1 billion will be needed to look after Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. In 2012 the German Government made available some 103 million euros for this purpose, making it one of the largest bilateral donors in the Syrian crisis. A total of 53 million euros were spent on humanitarian assistance in Syria and its neighbouring countries and some 50 million on recovery and rehabilitation as well as bilateral aid.