The European Commission today unlocks additional financial support for the UN’s Refugee agency, UNHCR, providing €2 million to meet the basic needs of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers currently in the Western Balkans. This humanitarian aid will enable the UNHCR to provide 200,000 refugees with warm clothes for the winter and temporary shelter and protection at reception sites in the region.
“With winter looming, the most vulnerable need our help and solidarity more than ever. They need basic supplies such as food, shelter, hygiene items as well as emergency health care. We are providing humanitarian support to do just that”, said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.
In 2015, the Commission is providing humanitarian aid amounting to over €8.74 million in the Western Balkans. This funding for the UNHCR is part of the €17 million aid package announced on 3 October to help Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia cope with the refugee influx.
Following progress made after the first video conference of the Western Balkans Route contact points, appointed after the 25 October Leaders’ Meeting, the next video conference will take place on 4 November. The video conference will be an opportunity to take stock of the state of play of the operational measures adopted in the past week.
