6 September 2013
St. Petersburg, Russia
The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire. It is estimated that 6.8 million people - nearly one third of the entire population of Syria - are in need of humanitarian assistance. Approximately 100,000 people have died in the ongoing conflict with thousands more wounded, and more than 2 million Syrians have sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt and North Africa since early 2011. These numbers are increasing and the humanitarian crisis is worsening as the conflict continues in the country.
The Government of Canada is committed to helping address the needs of the innocent civilians whose lives are being destroyed by the conflict in Syria. To this end, on the margins of the 2013 G-20 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced $45 million in additional humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected Syrians both inside Syria and in neighbouring countries.
Canada’s support will help humanitarian organizations meet the needs of Syrians affected by the conflict by providing food, clean water and sanitation, medical assistance, shelter and protection to those Syrians in country, as well as to those who have fled to neighbouring nations.
With this announcement, Canada has committed $203.5 million for humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Syria since January 2012.
