Acting on instructions from Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, the Farnesina has made a voluntary emergency contribution of 250,000 euros for humanitarian initiatives by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The initiatives are intended for the over 80,000 Syrian refugees now in Turkish territory.
The funds will help the Turkish authorities take in the growing flow of Syrian refugees, and bear witness to Italy’s continuing commitment in responding to the dramatic humanitarian emergency caused by the crisis in Syria.
Minister Terzi discussed the issue with the UN Secretary General in Turin last Saturday, 8 September. Ban Ki-moon had made an appeal earlier in the month for the international community to step up its efforts to help the victims of the violence in Syria. Two and a half million people need help in Syria itself, while over 230,000 have fled to neighbouring countries. Against this background, humanitarian initiatives are a key component in international action conducted by Italy on the Syrian crisis.
At the end of August, Italian Development Cooperation organised a humanitarian flight with 30 tons of aid supplies and equipment to build 4 new reception camps in Turkey. This followed the previous weeks’ deliveries of medical and essential supplies to Lebanon, and medical kits to treat patients in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
In collaboration with the Civil Protection Department and the Associazione Nazionale Alpini, a field hospital with capacity to treat up to 100 people a day was sent to Jordan. The Farnesina has also made a concrete response to UNICEF’s request for funding for school attendance programmes for Syrian child refugees in Lebanon and initiatives to protect them from the risk of exploitation and violence. The Foreign Ministry is also supporting an emergency food aid plan for Palestinian refugees living in Syria.
