David Cameron today urged world leaders to seize the moment “now” to save Syrian refugees who have been forced to flee the terror of Islamic State and the country’s civil war.
At the opening of a donors’ summit in London, the Prime Minister called for nations around the globe to pour millions more into supporting Syrians now struggling to survive in refugee camps in neighbouring countries.
The world was witnessing a “desperate movement of humanity” which it needed to respond to with greater generosity. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians were having to “put their lives in the hands of evil people smugglers” as they sought a future away from the bloodshed, fear and hopelessness tearing their country apart. Thousands of them, including many children had drowned seeking to make the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean.
“If ever there was a moment to take a new approach to the humanitarian crisis in Syria —surely it is now,” Mr Cameron urged. But he warned of a critical shortfall in life-saving aid that was holding back the humanitarian effort in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. More than 30 world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon flew in for the summit. Queen Rania of Jordan, Qatari first lady Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban aged 15 for her campaigning, as well as Syrian refugee Muzoon Almellehan were also attending.
Britain has led calls for the response to the refugee crisis to focus on more help to encourage Syrians to stay in neighbouring countries rather than risk their lives on journeys to the EU.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening this morning unveiled plans for all Syrian refugee children and those from host communities to be in education by the end of the 2016/2017 school year.
The UK will double its spending on education in Lebanon to £40 million per year for the next four years and increase spending on education in Jordan to £20 million a year over the next four years.
The UK has pledged an additional £1.2 billion to support refugees fleeing Syria’s civil war, taking its total to more than £2 billion. More than 70 countries were represented at the summit. The UN is appealing for £5.4 billion to fund aid operations for the 13.5 million people displaced by the fighting.
