Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

According to the UN Refugee Agency, almost 80,000 refugees have fled to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq. The UN estimates that as many as 1.5 million people are in need of assistance, including over half a million internally displaced people. Australia has been at the forefront of international efforts to respond to this crisis, having contributed $11 million in humanitarian support. This has helped international organisations to provide medical supplies and evacuate the wounded. It has helped the World Food Program to provide direct food assistance to half a million Syrians. Also, it has helped the UN increase humanitarian access for aid and providers. Australia is now the fourth largest humanitarian donor to the UN Syria Emergency Appeal. The Australian government will continue to show international leadership in responding to the needs of the Syrian people.