EU steps up financial aid in response to Syria crisis
The European Commission announced on December 1 2015 new aid packages in response to the Syrian crisis to help the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, announced 350 million euro under the EU Trust Fund for Syria, to provide urgently needed aid to 1.5 million refugees and overstretched host communities in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.
This marks the single biggest EU measure to the Syria crisis to date, the European Commission said.
The Commission said that the support will provide basic education and child protection, better access to health care, improved water and waste-water infrastructure, as well as support to resilience, economic opportunities and social inclusion.
Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management announced 60 million euro in immediate humanitarian aid to Iraq and Turkey, to be channelled through the United Nations, international organisations, and international NGO partners, to respond to life-threatening needs in the areas of food aid, health, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as shelter and protection.
This funding marks the final allocation of the 200 million euro additional humanitarian aid package to provide immediate support to refugees in 2015, proposed in September this year by the European Commission, the statement said.
(Photo of Mogherini and Hahn: EC Audiovisual Service)
