Brussels, 29/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - During its first meeting on Friday 29 May, the EU's new regional Trust Fund in response to the crisis in Syria adopted its first three action programmes to supply targeted aid to the most affected Syrian refugees and host communities.
The fund, which currently has €40 million, provides a regional response to the regional dimensions of the Syrian crisis - thus enabling the EU and its member states to take joint, flexible and swift action in response to how needs develop, the European Commission stated in a press release. “We need an instrument that can respond swiftly and help quickly - and not after a long procedure”, said European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.
Aid of €17.5 million will thus enable over 20,000 Syrian refugee children in Turkey to benefit from teaching in Arabic, from supplementary material and from psychosocial support. Around 3,700 Syrian volunteer teachers will receive training and incentives to enhance the quality of education in Arabic, and more than 31,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees will receive monthly vouchers for food.
A second programme of €12 million will help up to 20,000 young Syrians in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Syria continue or pick up their higher and further education through full-time scholarships. This programme is expected to boost by four times the number of Syrian students presently receiving international assistance to continue their studies (there are currently 7,000).
In addition, a third programme of €10 million will sustain livelihoods by increasing short-, medium- and long-term economic opportunities for Syrian refugees and host communities in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. The programme is expected to reach up to 190,000 people in 90 poor communities most affected by the refugee influx.
The Trust Fund money comes from the EU budget and Italy. Germany has also pledged a contribution of a further €5 million, which is subject to parliamentary approval. Hahn called on the other member states to make their contribution so as to enable a second package of programmes to be adopted by the end of the year. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)