Australia is giving international relief agencies an extra $12 million to help them respond to the humanitarian crisis unfolding as thousands more flee the fighting in Syria.
Since the fighting began, more than 1.5 million people have fled Syria. By the end of the year, these numbers could reach 3.6 million. Every day more than 5,000 Syrians cross into the neighbouring countries of Lebanon and Jordan.
Water, sanitation, education and housing services are being severely strained. Three quarters of those fleeing the conflict into Lebanon and Jordan are women and children.
‘The conflict in Syria is worsening by the day,’ Foreign Minister Bob Carr said. ‘Syria’s neighbours have been generous in welcoming Syrians displaced by the conflict, but they desperately need more help.
‘If donors have promised financial support to those affected by the crisis in Syria, now is the time to fulfil those promises.’
Australia will provide $9 million to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Australian Red Cross to help Jordan and Lebanon host Syrian refugees.
An additional $3 million will help to provide basic medical supplies, train health care workers in first aid and emergency surgery, distribute food parcels and supply clean drinking water within Syria.
Australian non-government organisations are also playing an important role in providing food, essential household items and cash assistance to Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. Under the Humanitarian Partnership Agreement with the Australian Government, four Australian emergency response partners (CARE, Caritas, Oxfam and Save the Children) will help vulnerable people who have fled to Lebanon and Jordan, and the local communities that are supporting them.
This new funding brings Australia’s total humanitarian contribution to the crisis in Syria to $78.5 million.