Bulgaria Pledges EUR 400,000 to Help War-affected Syrians in 2016

World | February 4, 2016, Thursday // 18:11
Bulgaria: Bulgaria Pledges EUR 400,000 to Help War-affected Syrians in 2016

Bulgaria’s immediate contribution into the global effort to alleviate the plight of the Syrian people affected by the civil war in their country will reach EUR 400,000 in 2016, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said.

This “is just a part of the support provided by Bulgaria to refugees on our territory as well as under various instruments of the European Union,” Borisov told "Supporting Syria and the Region" fundraising conference in London on Thursday, according to a news release of the government press office in Sofia.

The two-day donor conference co-hosted by the UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the UN, aims to generate significant new help for the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected by the Syrian conflict, including increased funding. The conference has brought together leaders of some 70 nations to mobilize additional support for improving the humanitarian situation both in Syria and in neighboring countries which are hosting Syrian refugees.

Bulgaria’s government had decided to grant EUR 250,000, including EUR 100,000 through the World Food Programme to feed refugees, and EUR 50,000 through UNICEF to provide access to education for children out of school in Syria, Borisov said.

"This year, our country will contribute EUR 100,000 to the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, and will make contributions to other instruments and programmes for assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons in Syria," Borisov added.

Borisov expressed Bulgaria’s solidarity with the countries bearing most of the burden of providing shelter, food and medical care to the rapidly growing refugee communities but made it clear that the worst humanitarian crisis since WWII requires a comprehensive response.

"The serious socio-economic and political consequences of the crisis in Syria and around that country give us a reason to reconsider the way in which we assist countries in the region. Humanitarian aid remains important but the long-term needs of refugees and internally displaced persons should be addressed by creating adequate economic opportunities, employment and equitable access to quality education to Syrian children,” Borisov said.

In this context, Bulgaria is ready to take part in new initiatives aimed at providing jobs and improving the living conditions for the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, Borisov added.

Over 4.6 million people have fled the war in Syria, mostly to neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, while 6.5 million people are internally-displaced.

 

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Tags: Bulgaria, conference, donor, fundraising, Supporting Syria and the Region, Borisov, Jordan, Lebanon, crisis, communities, refugees, internally displaced persons

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