Ottawa will provide $230 million over the coming year in humanitarian and development assistance for war-torn and drought-stricken Syria and surrounding areas.
• Read also: Syria: nine dead in Israeli strikes, heaviest toll this year
• Read also: ‘Don’t just think about Ukrainians’: Afghans cry for help
Most of this envelope, ie $170 million, will be used to meet the basic needs of Syrians, namely food aid, water, sanitation and hygiene services and health services.
“The remaining $60 million will be used for development assistance in the region,” Global Affairs Canada said in a statement on Tuesday. These projects will deal in particular with “strengthening the power of women and girls” and “promoting gender equality”.
According to the UN, 9.3 million Syrian children are facing hunger today, a record since the start of the civil war 11 years ago.
“Millions of children still live in fear, uncertainty and need in Syria and neighboring countries,” said UNICEF’s regional director for the Middle East and the Middle East in a statement released on Sunday. North Africa, Adele Khodr.
According to the latter, “the crisis in Syria is far from over”.
At the same time, the UN deplores a drop in the aid granted by the international community to Syrians stuck in Syria or in neighboring countries.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com