EU officially endorses new assistance to Syrian refugees

AMMAN — The European Commission has officially adopted a 180 million euro worth package to Jordan and Lebanon to help the two countries continue their humanitarian mission targetting Syrian refugees.

The package was endorsed in Brussels on Thursday, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times by the EU Delegation in Amman, with the aim of dealing with the effects of the Syrian crisis in Syria, as well as in Jordan and Lebanon, which are currently hosting around 630,000 and 1.1 million registered refugees respectively.

The package came in response to the longer-term development needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, and it addresses in particular the education of children and young adults, in line with the UNICEF-sponsored “No Lost Generation” initiative as well as measures to improve the resilience of the refugees and the communities hosting them through economic development activities, the statement said.

The neighbouring countries cannot cope with this massive refugee crisis in the medium to long term without significant additional support from the international community, the statement said, adding: “Experience shows that a return of refugees is often a long process even after a crisis ends, which calls for long-term sustainable solutions. 

This is especially true for Lebanon and Jordan. With their comparatively small population and limited resources, such a burden is posing a growing threat to these partner countries’ economic, social and political stability.”

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini was quoted as saying: “Today, the EU cannot simply watch the suffering of Syrian people without acting. We are ready and willing to bring continued support to the people of Syria and to the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. It is time for things to change. We are determined to play our role to the full and bring a lasting political solution to this regional crisis.”

Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn stated: “The EU stands by the Syrian people who need all the help they can get in this terrible crisis, as well as the Lebanese and Jordanian people who are under huge pressure in hosting such a high number of refugees. With these funds, 2.5 million children in the region will be given a chance to receive education and to prepare themselves for the time when peace is restored and their skills will be needed to rebuild Syria.”

Out of the total amount, 41 million euros is allocated to provide assistance to the population still inside Syria, 66 million euros to help Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan and 73 million euros in Lebanon, the statement said.

In response to the Syrian crisis, the union budget and member states have so far mobilised 2.9 billion euros since the start of the conflict, making it the main world donor in addressing the consequences of this crisis, the statement said.