Syria Crisis - Emergency Assistance for Syrian Refugees in Europe - UNHCR 2016

December 2015 - The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate as a result of the civil war and intensified violence in the country. The United Nations estimates that 13.5 million people inside Syria including 6 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. Combined with over 4.2 million Syrians seeking refuge from the conflict in neighbouring countries this is the largest number of people displaced from conflict in the world. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and host countries are increasingly overstretched by the influx of people fleeing the conflict. DFATD is providing support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s operations in Serbia Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in response to large numbers of Syrian refugees that continue to arrive in the Balkans en route to western Europe. Project activities include: (1) increasing presence at borders in order to provide core relief items including blankets and winter clothes; (2) providing information and monitoring on asylum procedures; (3) assisting in the reunion of families; and (4) facilitating refugees’ access to medical attention.

The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.