Canada is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to help refugees and displaced families affected by conflict
June 20, 2014 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced $50.7 million in funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for humanitarian assistance.
“Canada is a world leader in providing assistance and support to vulnerable populations around the world,” said Minister Alexander. “We are committed to protecting and resettling refugees and displaced families, who continue to suffer because of conflict and civil unrest. On World Refugee Day, we stand with our partners and think of those who have endured hardships and have been forced to flee their homes in fear of persecution. Canada will continue to show compassion and answer the call for assistance from populations worldwide.”
Minister Alexander announced the new funding at a World Refugee Day event hosted by UNHCR Canada in Ottawa. The funding will support UNHCR’s efforts to provide improved health and living conditions, as well as protection, for conflict-affected people, refugees and internally displaced people in many regions of the globe. This funding is separate from Canada’s support in response to the crisis in Syria and South Sudan.
UNHCR leads and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide while searching for durable solutions and ensuring refugees’ basic needs are met. Canada has a long-standing relationship with UNHCR and is a major contributor to the organization.
“We are highly encouraged to see this latest contribution from Canada and are profoundly grateful to Canada and the Canadian people for their continued support to refugees and the world's uprooted people,” said Furio De Angelis, UNHCR Representative in Canada. “We are pleased that this funding announcement has come at a time when UNHCR is juggling a multitude of emergencies with rapidly growing challenges that are clearly outpacing available resources.”
World Refugee Day, observed on June 20 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the plight of refugees, as well as to recognizing the resilience of forcibly displaced people, throughout the world. This year’s theme is One Family Torn Apart by War Is Too Many.
Sandrine Perion
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
sandrine.perion@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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