Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan 24 January 2014
In just over 12 months, the situation in Syria has rapidly escalated into a serious humanitarian crisis, 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 number of Syrians requiring assistance as a result of the conflict is now over 11.6 million.
Canada is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to those adversely affected by the Syrian crisis. To this end, Prime Minister Harper today announced additional support of $150 million in humanitarian assistance, to be disbursed in 2014, that will respond to the increasing humanitarian needs in Syria and neighbouring countries.
Of the total amount, $100 million in humanitarian assistance will be allocated to helping ensure that the basic needs of conflict-affected individuals are met – including food, shelter, clean water and sanitation, healthcare, education and protection for conflict-affected people – both inside Syria and in neighbouring countries. The support will also help to relieve some of the pressure on neighbouring communities in Jordan and Lebanon, where many refugees have sought and found refuge. It will be provided through established humanitarian partners.
In addition, $50 million will be allocated for education and child protection activities that support the “No Lost Generation” campaign.
The challenges facing children are of major concern. UNICEF’s No Lost Generation regional strategy released in October 2013, and UNHCR’s Refugee Children in Crisis regional assessment released in November 2013, outline a comprehensive approach to address children’s education, health, nutrition and protection issues, in addition to detailed country-level strategies in the countries most affected by the Syrian crisis.
Canada remains a leading donor in responding to the Syrian crisis. To date, Canada has committed more than $630 million in humanitarian, development and security assistance in response to the Syrian crisis. The value of the combined humanitarian appeals in response to the Syrian crisis is $7.3 billion.
Detailed information on Canada’s response to the Syrian crisis since the start of the uprising in March 2011 can be found at the DFATD website.
