Jersey aid to Syrian refugee crisis tops £1 million

Friday 18 September 2015

Jersey is sending an extra £650,000 in aid to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by the Syrian refugee crisis.

The aid follows a £350,000 grant in 2013 which supported the creation of emergency camps in countries around Syria.

The Jersey Overseas Aid Commission has announced the funding – which works out at just under £10 for every man, woman and child in the Island – which will come out of its 2015 budget.

Ten days ago, Chief Minister Ian Gorst announced that the Island was discussing taking on some refugees and giving them homes in Jersey – and that the option was being discussed with authorities in Guernsey and the UK.

A statement from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission confirmed the amount of aid, and said that the commission would be meeting key agencies in the UK next week.

Deputy Carolyn Labey, Chair of the Commission, said: “It is crucial that the Island responds in a coordinated way with others involved.

“The aid agencies we are working with are British Red Cross, UNICEF, Save the Children, Oxfam and Goal who are working on the ground and are best placed to identify the areas where support is needed.

“They have experience of dealing with crisis situations and are able to network with one another to maximise the benefit of the relief to those who need it most.”

It’s estimated that more than 19 million have fled homes in Africa and the Middle East – mainly from Syria and Eritrea – and many thousands have headed for Europe making perilous journeys thanks to unscrupulous people-smugglers. That tide of humanity has tested border controls and local infrastructure in the countries where they have arrived, and thousands have gathered at points including the Calais entrance to the Channel Tunnel and the Budapest Train Station.