EU boosts aid to Syrian refugees

The European Commission has significantly increased its aid to victims of the crisis in Syria, making an additional €50 million available for humanitarian aid and €165m for long-term support.

The Commission, which had been preparing the package of additional funding for some time, said that the funding would relieve some of the pressure exerted on Turkey by the large increase in refugees in recent days. The Commission, which announced the increase in aid on Tuesday evening (23 September), described the upsurge as “the largest wave of displacement since the beginning of the conflict”.

“In the last few days alone more than a hundred thousand people have crossed into Turkey, whose government deserves our deep gratitude for keeping its border open,” said Kristalina Georgieva, the European commissioner for international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response.

Georgieva’s figures may be conservative, with other estimates putting the number of Syrians crossing the Turkish border at up to 150,000.

The exodus followed an advance by the extreme Islamist force Islamic State into Kurd-populated areas of northern Syria.

Hours before the Commission’s announcement, the United States and an international coalition launched airstrikes against positions held by the Islamic State, which is also variously referred to as ISIS or ISIL. US commanders have suggested that the coalition’s campaign could last years, a prospect that adds to the long-term challenge for international donors.

The Commission had already provided €615m in emergency relief, and around €2.2 billion in other forms of development, financial and economic aid.

Because of the conflict, the vast majority of that money will be spent in neighbouring countries.

International estimates cited by the Commission suggest that there are now more than three million refugees registered beyond Syria’s borders. The three-year conflict, which emerged from protests that began in March 2011, may have displaced as many as 6.4 million people within Syria. Around 240,000 people are living under siege either by government or rebel forces, the EU says.

The Commission is currently trying to persuade member states to agree to the creation of a trust fund, as a means of streamlining the contributions of the Commission, member states and other donors.

The EU announced the creation of its first-ever trust fund in July, for the Central African Republic.