– The Syrian winter is cold and hard, and there is a great need to provide shelter and other basic needs for the war-hit Syrian people who also struggle with harsh winter conditions. We therefore provide 35 million to Syrian refugees and internally displaced people in the country, said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
The help will be given through the Norwegian Red Cross, Norwegian People’s Aid and Norwegian Church Aid organizations. Money for winter preparedness will be used for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, as well as for internally displaced people in Syria. Norway has contributed a total of 210 million NOK to help address the crisis in Syria so far in 2012.
– It is particularly challenging for the United Nations and the International Red Cross to help internally displaced people in the war-hit areas. Aid organizations that operate across borders from neighboring Syria play a crucial role, says Eide.
State Secretary Torgeir Larsen said they will further contribute to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Syria, including in opposition-controlled areas in dialogue with the National Coalition.
