Syria

The Syrian Tragedy

A bloody civil war has been under way in Syria for six years. Already in May 2011 the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) decided to suspend the official development cooperation with Syria for an indefinite period of time.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, about 4.6 million Syrians are currently in exile. The majority of them have found refuge in neighbouring countries: 1.2 million Syrian refugees are currently living in Lebanon, around 1.9 have fled to Turkey, more than 630,000 to Jordan and approximately 250,000 to Iraq. Moreover, it is estimated that far more than 7.6 million Syrians are internally displaced. Many are living in degrading conditions, wounded and traumatised, accommodated in makeshift camps. The situation has been made even worse by the thuggery of the terror organisation Islamic State IS and UK-, Russian-, and US-led air strikes against IS in the country.

The German assistance in which KfW Development Bank is involved is being provided in a variety of ways: on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office and the United Arab Emirates, KfW has set up a reconstruction fund: the Syria Recovery Trust Fund. It is designed to help to improve people's access to energy, water and health services in the parts of Syria administrated by the moderate Syrian opposition (Syrian National Coalition). KfW is also providing support in the neighbouring countries: in Jordanian municipalities where refugees are living the water supply and waste water disposal are being expanded and repaired. Through emergency aid (with UN organisations such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF), refugees in Lebanon and Jordan are supplied with clean water, food, medicines and medical treatment and care for children.