The trade and development minister, Mogens Jensen, intends to reveal at the international donor conference for Syria in Kuwait today that Denmark will give 250 million kroner to the victims of the conflict in Syria in 2015.
With the latest donation, Denmark has donated over 1 billion kroner in humanitarian aid since the crisis started back in 2011.
”It’s with a mixture of pride and sadness that I give the Danish contribution,” Jensen said.
”Pride because it underlines that Denmark is a humanitarian powerhouse that conveys our solidarity with people who live in some of the worst conditions in the world. And sadness because, despite the huge amount, it won’t be enough to cover the humanitarian needs in Syria.”
READ MORE: Denmark sets aside more aid for Syrian victims
Refugees mounting
200 million kroner of the Danish aid is earmarked as direct humanitarian aid for the victims of the conflict. The remaining 50 million kroner will go to neighbouring nations Lebanon and Jordan to help them handle the Syrian refugee crisis. The funds will be channelled through Danish and international organisations that are already active in the area.
”Lebanon and Jordan have the most refugees compared to their own population in the world. The two nations have taken in almost 2 million refugees in the last few years,” Jensen said. ”And we mustn’t forget that these are nations with populations comparable to Denmark.”
According to the UN, 12.2 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 6 million people in neighbouring countries (including 4 million refugees) have been negatively affected by the crisis.
The 250 million kroner includes the 90 million kroner of aid for Syria that was announced earlier this month.
