24 January 2017•Update: 24 January 2017
By Fatih Erel
GENEVA
The UN on Tuesday appealed for $4.63 billion in new funding to address the growing needs of Syrian refugees and host communities in neighboring countries, a statement said.
Launched at a conference in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, the fresh appeal is in addition to the $3.4 billion that the global intergovernmental organization estimates will be required to address the humanitarian needs of 13.5 million Syrians "in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection" in the war-ravaged country this year.
Kai Mykkanen, Finnish minister for foreign trade and development, pointed out the "huge increase in humanitarian need" and "the great burden carried by the neighbouring countries."
"By hosting this key event, Finland wants to highlight the vital work done by the UN and Syria's neighbours," Mykkanen said.
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, for his part, said Syrian refugees and host communities "need our support now more than ever."
"The international community must send a clear message that it stands with them and provides the urgently needed support.
"UNHCR and partners are ready to address the needs and vulnerabilities of Syrian refugees and the communities hosting them, but require the necessary and flexible funding to do so," he said.
Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the suffering of the Syrians continued "unabated".
"It’s imperative that we step up our collective efforts to meet the needs of the 13.5 million Syrian men, women and children in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection," he said.
UN's Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for 2017 and 2018 aims to assist over 4.7 million refugees from Syria and 4.4 million people hosting them in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.
