With no end in sight to egregious violence and human rights abuse in Syria, Amnesty International, Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) are calling on EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers to act now to help refugees fleeing Syria.

Refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries

On 27-28 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson is visiting Lebanon and refugee camps close to the Syrian border to monitor the humanitarian needs that have arisen as a consequence of the conflict in Syria.

Lebanon is one of the countries that has clearly been affected by the conflict and has received more than 100 000 Syrian refugees. Sweden is one of the largest humanitarian aid donors to Syria and its neighbouring countries. This year, it has donated SEK 246 million, of which a significant portion has gone to Lebanon.

The European Union is making a contribution of approximately €19.0 million to the payment of the October salaries and pensions of around 84,200 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE[1] mechanism, is being funded by the European Commission (€13.8 million), the Government of Sweden (SEK 35.0 million or c.€4.0 million) and the Government of the Netherlands (c.€1.2 million earmarked specifically to the PA salaries in the Justice sector).

The European Union is making today a contribution of €24.7 million to the payment of the January salaries and pensions of around 84,300 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE [1] mechanism, is being funded by the European Commission (€22.5 million) and the Government of Sweden (SEK 20.0 million or c.€2.2 million).

Jerusalem, 01 December 2011 - UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People signed two separate agreements today worth approximately USD 6 million with the Governments of Denmark, Sweden and EUPOL COPPS in an effort to reinforce transparency and democratic governance.