Syrian Refugees: The Humanitarian Coalition Highlights the UN's Call for Additional Funds

OTTAWA, June 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the United Nations (UN) announced the amount of funding it will need to assist the millions of Syrians affected by the ongoing conflict: $5 billion between now and the end of 2013. This figure is more than three times the UN estimate for the first six months of the year.  It is both an indication of immense population movements, and a stark reminder that the humanitarian situation for Syrian people will likely get worse before it gets better.

With nearly 1.6 million refugees now spread across host communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Egypt, and more than 4,2 million civilians displaced inside Syria, providing clean water, food, shelter, medical supplies, and protection for children, will require a major, and urgent, infusion of funds.

The Humanitarian Coalition and its member agencies launched a joint appeal for Syrian refugees last month, and thousands of Canadians responded to support relief efforts. So far, we have received more than $300,000 and allocated an additional $100,000 from our Emergency Response Fund. While donor countries pledged $1.5 billion at an international conference in Kuwait in January, some have not followed through with an allocation of money. Canada delivered on its promise of $48.5 million in humanitarian assistance. But clearly, more is needed from everyone.

All contributions make a difference for vulnerable Syrian families in camps and urban settings as they find themselves with virtually no possessions, often facing precarious health conditions due to overcrowding. Our agencies in the region need to scale up their programs to deal with the daily influx of refugees fleeing the conflict. Together, let's make sure they have the resources to carry out their life-saving work.

The Humanitarian Coalition is a joint appeal mechanism. It is comprised of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children. With a combined presence in more than 120 countries, we bring together Canada's leading aid agencies to finance relief efforts in times of international humanitarian crises. We work together to eliminate unnecessary competition, reduce the duplication of fundraising costs, and inform the public on humanitarian needs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE: Humanitarian Coalition

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