On Sunday The Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach announced a humanitarian contribution of 100 million DKK to victims of the Syrian conflict. Denmark has so far contributed around 330 million DKK to humanitarian action in and around Syria.
Christian Friis Bach says:
"The UN now estimates that the conflict has claimed at least 93.000 lives, including more than 6.500 minors. Over the past year, this equals 5.000 persons dying each month. Nearly 6 million people are displaced from their homes and 8.4 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. It must not continue, and we are now increasing our efforts to assist the many conflict affected."
“In response to the largest UN appeal ever, I have decided to increase the Danish humanitarian contribution to alleviate the immense humanitarian needs.”
“Today I go to New York, where I will announce the Danish contribution and discuss the crisis with the Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Valerie Amos.”
“The strengthening will support international aid organizations in providing many the Syrian refugees in neighboring countries with better opportunities for survival and means to getting through the crisis. It will also be utilized for the distribution of food, medicine and other relief items as well as for the repairing of water supply systems inside Syria. I have also allocated funds for the more than 500.000 Palestinian refugees in Syria, who are particularly affected by the crisis and are in urgent need of help.”
"About a third of the Danish contribution will go through Danish humanitarian civil society organizations providing humanitarian assistance in and around Syria."
Background
On Friday 7 June the UN launched appeals for 4,4 billion U.S. dollars to cover the humanitarian needs in and around Syria. Combined, it is the largest UN humanitarian appeal to date.
Right now 6,8 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, as are at least 1,6 million people who have fled to Syria's neighboring countries. Both figures are expected to increase significantly in the coming months.
The 100 million DKK will be allocated as follows:
• 27 million DKK to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) which is responsible for helping 1,6 million people who have escaped from Syria to neighboring countries.
• 17 million DKK to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food distribution to persons in Syria and to the Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
• 15 million DKK to the International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) for distribution of food, basic necessities and medicine in Syria as well as for repair and maintenance of Syria's water supply system.
• 6 million DKK to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which is primarily responsible for ensuring the protection of and assistance to more than 500.000 Palestinian refugees in Syria. They are particularly severely affected by the war and in urgent need of help.
• 35 million DKK are allocated to a round of applications open to Danish humanitarian civil society organizations providing humanitarian assistance in and around Syria.
For more information contact: Frej Jackson, press adviser, tel. 0045 29724477