Amman, Jordan 23 January 2014
In roughly more than 12 months, the situation in Syria has rapidly escalated into a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions, with alarming social, economic and political impacts across the region. An estimated 9.3 million people in Syria now require humanitarian assistance, of which 6.5 million are internally displaced. An additional 2.3 million people have fled Syria and are living as registered refugees in neighbouring countries. The total number of Syrians requiring assistance as a result of the conflict is more than 11.6 million.
The Government of Canada is committed to helping address the needs of those adversely impacted by the Syrian crisis. To this end, Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced up to $105 million to assist Jordan with development and security challenges due to the Syrian conflict, and the resulting influx of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.
Of this, up to $100 million in development assistance will be provided over the next five years to promote economic development and deliver basic services, such as education, to Jordanians and Syrian refugees. Support is being provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD)’s development assistance programs.
The remaining $5 million, which will be delivered over the next five years, will support Jordan’s work to mitigate the threat posed by Syrian weapons and materials of mass destruction, through the provision of critical equipment, infrastructure, technology and training. This support is being provided through DFATD’s Global Partnership Program.
These new funds are in addition to Canada’s current support for development projects, security initiatives and humanitarian assistance in Jordan:
Canada has already committed $110 million to support development projects in the region to strengthen government services and infrastructure stressed by the influx of Syrian refugees - specifically in health, education and the delivery of basic service - and to address Jordan’s specific development challenges.
Canada has already committed $47.7 million for security-related assistance to address the impact of the Syrian crisis, including $41.6 million for Jordan to mitigate the threat posed by Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons.
In addition, to date, Canada has committed $203.5 million to international humanitarian assistance efforts in Syria and neighbouring countries since January 2012. Of this, $26.4 million has been for projects and initiatives in Jordan. This assistance is being delivered through experienced humanitarian partners, such as the United Nations, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organizations, who provide emergency shelter, food, nutrition, clean water and sanitation, education, protection, and basic health services, including psycho-social and gender-based violence support.
Detailed information on Canada’s response to the Syrian crisis since the beginning of the uprising in March 2011 can be found on the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada website: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng
