By Jin Li and Yoon Sojung
The Korean government has announced that it will provide humanitarian aid worth USD 14 million to Syria and neighboring Middle Eastern countries throughout the year 2017.
The announcement was made by Choi Jong-mun, deputy minister for multilateral and global affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was speaking at the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, in the Belgian capital on April 5.
The international gathering was jointly hosted by the U.K., Germany, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar, the U.N. and the EU. It was attended by high-profile government officials from about 70 countries, as well as representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations. They discussed how the international community could help to resolve the Syrian conflict.
Deputy Minister Choi said, “From 2012 to 2016, the Korean government has contributed more than USD 35 million to Syria and its neighbors.” He strongly condemned the latest deadly chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun, in the Idlib region in northern Syria. Choi also emphasized the importance of implementing a ceasefire agreement in order to resolve Syrian issues.
About 40 countries, including Korea, pledged contributions worth around USD 6 billion to Syria and its neighbors, all within the year. The meeting participants emphasized the seriousness of the humanitarian crisis in Syria due to the long-lasting conflict there. They also expressed their support for political efforts to resolve the issues.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, approximately 13.5 million people need humanitarian aid due to the Syrian conflict. About 69 percent of the total population of Syria suffers from severe poverty. Its neighbors Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon have been struggling with tremendous amounts of economic and social costs due to the influx of 4.8 million refugees.
jinli01@korea.kr