EU Pledges a Billion Euros to Help Syrian Refugees

One reason Syrian refugees are coming to Europe in greater numbers is that it's nearly impossible for them to work legally in neighbouring countries.

Aid agencies requested $7.4 billion for the Syria crisis for 2015, but received only 38 percent.

“Need has risen so much that even though we are securing record amounts of funding, record amounts of political will and support, nonetheless the [funding] gap has widened”, Stephen O’Brien, the United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the AP during a tour Saturday of the Zaatari refugee camp, the largest camp in Jordan for Syrian refugees.

As the influx of Syrian refugees into Europe grows, the number of people staying in regional refugee camps is declining.

OCHA noted that the needs generated by the Syria crisis are outpacing the generous funding received so far.

Aid agencies have been forced to scale back food and cash aid, making it increasingly hard for refugees to survive.

Speaking before his departure to Jordan, Gabriel said that it’s a priority to “stabilize the situation in the refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey”.

A top United Nations humanitarian official wrapped up a visit to Jordan today, with a call on the worldwide community to urgently increase support to Syrian refugees and the local communities hosting them.

During a visit to Jordan, he claimed that the countries in the region have been tasked with disproportionate burden, since they are sheltering the vast majority of people fleeing conflict in Syria, which broke out in 2011.

Zaatari’s population has dropped to 79,000, down by 2,000 since the beginning of August, Etyemezian said.

From there, many continue their journey across the Balkans in hopes of reaching more prosperous European countries.