Today the European Commission announces new aid packages in response to the Syrian crisis to help the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, and Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations announced €350 million under the EU Trust Fund for Syria, to provide urgently needed aid to 1.5 million refugees and overstretched host communities in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.
This marks the single biggest EU measure to the Syria crisis to date. The support will provide basic education and child protection, better access to healthcare, improved water and waste-water infrastructure, as well as support to resilience, economic opportunities and social inclusion.
Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management announced €60 million in immediate humanitarian aid to Iraq and Turkey, to be channelled through the United Nations, International Organisations, and international NGO partners, to respond to life-threatening needs in the areas of food aid, health, water, sanitation and hygiene as well as shelter and protection. This funding marks the final allocation of the €200 million additional humanitarian aid package to provide immediate support to refugees in 2015, proposed in September this year by the Commission.
