SWITZERLAND: U.N. refugee agency doubles the amount it says is needed for aid for Syrian refugees, who it says are pouring into neighbouring countries in large numbers

Record ID: 281162

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: U.N. refugee agency doubles the amount it says is needed for aid for Syrian refugees, who it says are pouring into neighbouring countries in large numbers
  • Date: 29th June 2012
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 28, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE U.N. BUILDING IN GENEVA JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. CO-ORDINATOR FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES, PANOS MOUMTZIS, SAYING: "I'm appealing today to the international community to contribute generously to this revised appeal asking for $193 million. Financial support is crucial in order to sho
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA3DKVUMQN1I3EAP1D63HS9PKMO
  • Story Text: The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) on Thursday (June 28) doubled its forecast for the number of refugees who will flee Syria this year to 185,000 and said it would need more than twice as much money as previously thought.
    U.N. humanitarian agencies and their partner organisations say they now need $193 million to help the refugees, more than twice the $84.1 million they appealed for in March.
    U.N. co-ordinator for Syrian refugees Panos Moumtzis made an urgent appeal for more funds.
    "I'm appealing today to the international community to contribute generously to this revised appeal asking for $193 million. Financial support is crucial in order to show a sign of solidarity and support to the hosting neighbouring countries, who have opened schools, clinics, infrastructure to host the Syrian refugees, and so the support of the international community and the financial means for enabling us to continue responding urgently for the needs is really crucial," Moumtzis told reporters at a news conference.
    Refugee numbers have doubled to 96,000 since March, overtaking the U.N. refugee aid plan for 2012 that was made in that month and forcing the U.N. to revise its forecast, Moumtzis said.
    "75 percent of the Syrian refugees who have crossed are women and children, and 50 percent are children, so we are seeing a significant number of families who are crossing the borders," Moumtzis said.
    He said the majority of refugees crossing into Syria's neighbouring countries come from the three hotspot cities of Homs, Deraa and Idlib.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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