The United Nations has called for $8.4 billion to provide emergency aid for the Syrian people displaced by the ongoing crisis in the country.
The UN’s appeal for the year 2015 was made in the German capital, Berlin, on Thursday and is aimed at helping nearly 18 million people.
“This plan, if fully funded, can help us provide food and medicine for children, shelter families from the cold, and support those who are desperate and traumatized. Syria is a very difficult and dangerous place to work but the humanitarian community remains committed to helping the most vulnerable people caught in this crisis,” said Valerie Amos, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
As much as $2.9 billion is required to help 12.2 million people inside Syria and $5.5 billion is needed to aid the Syrian refugees in other countries.
“Refugees and internally displaced people have exhausted their savings and resources, and host countries are at breaking point,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.
The UN says more than 200,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict that has gripped Syria since March 2011.
