Press Release: Syria crisis: EU and U.N. partners to reach millions of Syrians in desperate need of humanitarian assistance

On 18 December 2013 the European Commission signed three major contracts with United Nations agencies totalling €147 million to deliver vitally needed aid to people directly affected by the Syrian crisis. The Heads of the UN Refugee Agency, the UN World Food Programme and UNICEF, meeting with the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva in Brussels, were participating in a signing ceremony for this substantial humanitarian funding.

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/1173: Aid Principals calling for decisive action to increase humanitarian access and funding for Syria crisis http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1173_en.pdf

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Syria crisis: EU delivers on its pledges and mobilises another €85 million for Syria and Jordan http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-syria-crisis-eu-delivers-on-its-pledges-and-mobilises-another-e85-million-for-syria-and-jordan/

European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/1080: Statement by President Barroso following the meeting with UN leaders on humanitarian support to Syria http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-1080_en.pdf

EurActiv, 19.12.13: UN heads, EU call for humanitarian ceasefire in Syria http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/un-heads-eu-call-humanitarian-ce-news-532475

EUObserver [Opinion], 20.12.13: Europe’s race to the bottom on protecting refugees from Syria http://euobserver.com/opinion/122539

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