Indeed, millions of Syrian residents are struggling to meet their basic needs, while millions of Syrians are trying to find refuge in neighbouring countries. The vulnerability of these populations is increasing more and more quickly, and their limited resources are diminishing rapidly. Neighbouring countries and host communities, for their part, are dealing with a great deal of pressure due to the arrival of such a large number of people in such a short time.
According to the United Nations, 9.3 million people need humanitarian assistance in Syria. As of January 30, more than 2.4 million people had registered as refugees, while hundreds of thousands of others chose, for various reasons, not to do so. In all, it is estimated that 3 million people—more than half of whom are children—are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. The United Nations estimates that the number of refugees could reach 4.1 million by December of 2014.
The situation of children is of particular concern. Indeed, the conflict has caused immense suffering among boys and girls of all ages in Syria, both physical and psychological. Beside the direct threats of which they are the victims, such as violence, abuse, lack of safe drinking water, and inadequate nutrition, they whish becoming a lost generation as several million children inside and outside Syria are not attending school. We have to do everything in our power to prevent the loss of this generation of Syrian children.
Since your last briefing there have been several developments.
On December 19 Minister Paradis outlined the details of our latest $45 million in Canadian humanitarian assistance. Through UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and NGO partners, our contribution is focused on winterization activities to ensure that Syrians, whether they've remained in Syria or have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, have access to life-saving relief items and shelter to help them survive the very harsh winter conditions. Funding is also focused on prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence as well as support for water and sanitation, food assistance, and medical interventions, including those in response to the polio outbreak.
Polio remains a major concern in Syria as several cases have been confirmed in the last months. The international community, led by the World Health Organization, was quick in responding to the situation and launched a mass vaccination campaign targeting 22 million children across the entire region. So far three rounds of vaccination have taken place, and the preliminary results are encouraging. We must, however, keep in mind that a substantial number of children have not yet been reached, and we must continue to advocate for the vaccines to reach children across the country, including in besieged areas.
In December, the UN launched revised appeals in response to the humanitarian needs stemming from the Syrian conflict. These appeals represent the largest request for humanitarian funding for a single situation in the UN’s history. The combined value of all humanitarian appeals in 2014, including the UN appeals and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement appeals, is approximately $6.9 billion U.S., or approximately $7.7 billion Canadian.
On January 15, I accompanied Deputy Minister Paul Rochon to the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait. Donors pledged a total of $2.3 billion at the conference or $800 million U.S. more than last year. Canada used the opportunity to reiterate its commitment to remaining one of the leading donors to the Syria response.
Following the pledging conference, the Prime Minister travelled to Jordan where he announced additional support of $150 million in humanitarian assistance in order to respond to the increasing needs of conflict-affected people in Syria and in neighbouring countries. This brings the total Canadian humanitarian response to the Syria crisis to $353.5 million.
Of the $150 million announced, $100 million will be allocated to helping ensure that the basic needs of affected populations are met, by providing life-saving assistance such as food, safe drinking water, shelter, health care, and protection inside and outside Syria. As was the case with previous funding, this support will be provided through experienced humanitarian partners.
The remaining $50 million will be allocated to the “No Lost Generation” initiative that outlines education and protection activities for children in Syria and in the region. Led by UNICEF, in partnership with the UNHCR, Save the Children, World Vision, and other NGO partners, the strategy aims to address the hidden impact this long conflict has had on children, with practical investments to expand access to learning and psychosocial support, strengthen social cohesion and peace-building, and restore hope for the future to millions of children. The details of Canada’s support to this initiative are still being worked out. However, the $50 million allocation will help protect thousands of children and give them access to education.
As you learned during the committee meeting held on December 5, the United Nations Security Council published a presidential statement last October to urge Syria to grant immediate access to humanitarian organizations wishing to offer lifesaving assistance to people impacted by the crisis. In spite of this measure, and in spite of the great efforts made by United Nations member states and organizations, little progress has been made to improve humanitarian worker,s access in Syria.
Canada continues to press all parties for improved access for humanitarian personnel, who have routinely been targeted regularly in this conflict, and to ensure their security. Humanitarian access was in fact one of the issues discussed by representatives of the opposition and the regime during the Geneva II talks, which recently ended in Switzerland. Unfortunately, these talks did not lead to an agreement on improved humanitarian access.
Despite the challenges, significant results have been achieved by our humanitarian partners. I will be happy to answer your questions in this matter.
As the conflict drags on, humanitarian needs keep rising quickly and dramatically. Humanitarian aid, along with development and security assistance, is imperative to mitigate the disastrous consequences this conflict had, not only on the Syrian population but on the neighbouring populations as well.
Thank you.