Canada to give UN $75 million for Syrian refugee relief
TORONTO - Canada's Liberal government announced on Thursday a US$75 million (CA$100 million) contribution to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help fleeing Syrians, fulfilling a campaign promise from its recent federal election.
The contribution includes US$7.5 million (CA$10 million) for the UN refugee agency as part of the program to resettle thousands of Syrian refugees in Canada over the next few months.
International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the government will move quickly to disburse the funds.
"We know that Syrian refugees are cutting on meals, taking on debt to meet their basic daily needs and risking their lives to leave Syria," she said. "This funding to UNHCR will help to make these decisions a little less difficult by helping to meet basic needs."
