UN and NGOs appeal for increased funding for Syrian refugees

United Nations agencies and NGO partners today appealed for US$4.63 billion in new funding to continue vital work in addressing the growing needs of refugees from Syria and communities hosting them in neighbouring countries.

The UN and more than 240 partners formally launched the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) for 2017 and 2018. The plan aims to assist over 4.7 million refugees from Syria and 4.4 million people hosting them in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

The funding for the 3RP is in addition to the $3.4 billion that the UN estimates will be required to address the humanitarian needs of 13.5 million people within Syria this year.

Hosted by Finland, the Helsinki Conference on Supporting Syrians and the Region focuses on key humanitarian priorities: saving lives, protection, and building resilience.

The vast majority of Syrian refugees fall below the poverty line and struggle to afford essentials such as food, rent and health care.

Seventy per cent of those in need are women and children. Half of refugee children are out of school. And with winter now biting, humanitarian needs are a matter of life and death.

“Syrian refugees and host communities need our support now more than ever,” said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “The international community must send a clear message that it stands with them and provides the urgently needed support.”

Neighbouring countries continue to struggle to meet the challenges of the political, economic and social spill-over from the Syria crisis.

"As millions have fled Syria, we have seen extraordinary generosity and solidarity on the part of host countries and communities – and they must not be left to cope alone,” said Helen Clark, Administrator of UNDP."

Additional link:

• Syria Regional Refugee Response (Inter-agency Information Sharing Portal)