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EU adopts €297 million in concrete actions for #Refugees and local communities in #Jordan and #Lebanon

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Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said: “The newly adopted assistance package will provide further support to refugees and host communities when it comes to livelihood, social protection, affordable quality healthcare, water and wastewater infrastructures. The work of the EU Trust Fund has been instrumental in providing vital assistance to refugees fleeing from the Syrian war and to countries hosting refugees. The extension of the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis allows us to continue our support to people in need and to the whole region.”

The assistance package consists of the following actions in support of refugees and host communities:

  • €45m in support of economic development and social stability in Lebanon to foster economic growth and local development;
  • €48m to improve public water and wastewater services for local host communities and Syrian refugee populations in Lebanon;
  • €70m for better access to  quality, equitable and affordable health services for vulnerable populations in Lebanon;
  • €59m to strengthen the self-reliance of refugees and host communities in Jordan, work towards  an inclusive national social protection system and the creation of decent job opportunities for Syrians;
  • €39m for the establishment of an integrated solid waste management system in Syrian refugee camps and neighbouring communities in Jordan to improve health, environmental conditions and create job opportunities, and;
  • €36m to support the needs of Palestine refugees from Syria in Jordan and Lebanon.

The new assistance package was adopted by the EU Trust Fund's Operational Board, which brings together the European Commission, EU Member States, and Turkey. Observers of the Operational Board include Members of the European Parliament, representatives from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the World Bank, and the Syria Recovery Trust Fund. With this newly adopted package, the Trust Fund has committed over €1.8 billion in concrete actions in the region, helping refugees and host countries alike.

Background on the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis

Since its establishment in December 2014, a significant share of the EU's support to help Syrian refugees and Syria's neighbouring countries is being provided through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis. The Trust Fund reinforces an integrated EU aid response to the crisis and primarily addresses longer-term resilience and needs to enhance self-reliance of Syrian refugees and, at the same time, contributes to ease the pressure on host communities and the administrations in neighbouring countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

The Fund has also underpinned the EU Compacts agreed with Jordan and Lebanon to better assist them in the protracted refugee crisis. With the new package adopted now, the Fund has mobilised a total of over €700m for Lebanon, more than €500m for Turkey, more than €400m for Jordan and over €150m for Iraq in 5 years of operations. Overall, more than €1.8 billion has been mobilized from the EU budget and contributions of 22 EU member states and Turkey.

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The Trust Fund's programmes support basic education and child protection services for refugees, training and higher education, better access to healthcare, improved access to water and wastewater infrastructure, support to resilience, women empowerment and fighting gender based violence, as well as economic opportunities and social stability. The Fund can also support internally displaced persons in Iraq and actions in the Western Balkans.

More information

EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis

Factsheet: EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis

 

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