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Foreign Minister Westerwelle points out urgent need to prevent a refugee crisis
As the number of Syrian refugees rises, Germany is providing increased support to ensure that they find shelter in neighbouring countries.
In Jordan, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief is using German Foreign Office funds to set up one refugee camp’s entire water supply system. Once it is finished, the Za’atari refugee camp in Mafraq province, near the Syrian border, will accommodate up to 100,000 refugees. The Foreign Office is providing 400,000 euros to fund the project from its humanitarian aid budget. Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement on the matter today:
“Given the brutal violence being deployed by the Assad regime, the situation has been getting even worse for people in the conflict areas. We are extremely concerned at the rapidly swelling flood of Syrian refugees fleeing into neighbouring countries.
We must do our utmost, in collaboration with Syria’s neighbours, to prevent a refugee crisis.
We want our humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the plight of the people fleeing this terrible conflict. Our priority is to support Syria’s neighbours in the task of caring for well over 100,000 refugees.
I call on the Assad regime to urgently grant all humanitarian aid workers free access to people in need of assistance in Syria.”
The Federal Agency for Technical Relief is carrying out the project on behalf of UNICEF and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Foreign Office has so far made a total of 8.5 million euros available to provide medical care for the victims of the conflict in Syria, distribute food supplies in the conflict zones and meet the needs of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.
