Canada, Austria Pledge Almost $50Mln In Assistance To Syria, Neighboring Nations

Sumaira FH Published March 14, 2019 | 10:37 PM

Canada pledged over 50 million Canadian dollars (about $37 million) in aid to Syria and its neighbors on Thursday, while Austria has said it would give nine million euros (about $10 million) to help with the countries' reconstruction efforts

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th March, 2019) Canada pledged over 50 million Canadian Dollars (about $37 million) in aid to Syria and its neighbors on Thursday, while Austria has said it would give nine million Euros (about $10 million) to help with the countries' reconstruction efforts.

The United Nations urged the international community on Wednesday to recognize the humanitarian crisis is still looming over Syria and its neighbors and asked nations to support the millions of displaced Syrian refugees with financial assistance. With 11.7 million people needing emergency assistance, according to UN numbers, the organization has asked for $3.3 billion for the response inside Syria and $5.5 billion for refugees in the region.

"On behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced $50.

35 million in support to address humanitarian needs in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq," the Canadian government said on its website.

Austria also decided to allocate its funds for reconstruction and demining efforts in Syria.

"Austria's aid will amount to 9 million euros, part of which will be directed to the demining efforts in the country, which we would like to focus our attention on. We will also provide aid to neighboring countries, especially Jordan and Lebanon," Karin Kneissl, the Austrian foreign minister, told reporters on the sidelines of a "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" conference in Brussels, co-chaired by the United Nations and the European Union.

Syria is in the process of recovering from a years-long military conflict that ravaged the country and displaced millions. The international community is now in the process of assisting Syria's reconstruction and resettlement.