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Swiss budget for Syrians in desperate need increased by CHF 20 million

23.09.2014 — Press releases EDA
To improve the desperate situation of people affected by the conflict in Syria, Switzerland’s Humanitarian Aid has increased its support measures both for people in Syria and the over three million refugees in the neighbouring states. Switzerland’s budget since the start of the Syrian crisis totals CHF 105 million.


Switzerland sends winter equipment for war refugees in Northern Iraq

18.09.2014 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland has decided to send relief aid to the greater Erbil area in Northern Iraq. The cargo consists primarily of cold weather tents intended to help people displaced by the war to survive the winter. Today, a specialist from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) is flying to Erbil to prepare for distributing the aid. More specialists from the Swiss cooperation office in Amman will join him on the ground.



Switzerland commits an additional CHF 4.5 million for South Sudan

20.05.2014 — Press releases EDA
Switzerland has allocated an additional CHF 4.5 million for the victims of the crisis in South Sudan. This was announced on Tuesday at a conference of donor countries held in Oslo. Switzerland’s overall financial commitment to humanitarian aid for this country in the Horn of Africa will amount to CHF 18 million in 2014.


Swiss Humanitarian Aid Annual Conference: new instruments for more complex crises

14.03.2014 — Press releases EDA
"Living Humanitarian Responsibility" is the title of this year's Annual Conference of Swiss Humanitarian Aid. At the annual conference on 14 March, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, and SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden spoke about Switzerland's humanitarian actors. Swiss experts gave presentations on the response by Swiss Humanitarian Aid to current crises.


Federal Council approves a contribution of CHF 33.7 million to UNRWA

26.02.2014 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting on 26 February 2014, the Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF 33.7 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This contribution covers the period 2014–2015. Through its humanitarian and development aid for millions of refugees, UNRWA plays a key stabilising role in the region.


Switzerland supports humanitarian aid for the Syrian crisis with a further CHF 30 million

13.01.2014 — Press releases EDA
War has been raging in Syria for more than 1000 days; the humanitarian situation in the region is catastrophic. According to UN estimates, approximately 9.3 million people in Syria need humanitarian aid. The number of refugees has more than tripled to 2.3 million over the last 12 months and is expected to exceed 4 million by the end of 2014. In view of the situation, the UN is about to convene another donor conference in Kuwait during which it will call on the international community to provide USD 6.5 billion in assistance this year. Switzerland will pledge additional assistance in response to this appeal for humanitarian aid – the largest the UN has made to date.


Switzerland steps up support for victims of crisis in Central African Republic

20.12.2013 — Press releases EDA
In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), Switzerland has allocated CHF 800,000 for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to protect internally displaced persons. This commitment is in addition to the support totalling CHF 2.7 million that Switzerland has already earmarked for 2013 for the emergency operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UNHCR and Médecins sans frontières (MSF).


A further CHF 5 million of winter aid for victims of the Syrian crisis

12.12.2013 — Press releases EDA
Since the conflict in Syria began, the third winter has now set in. The cold, the rain and the snow are making conditions radically worse for people displaced within the country and those that have fled to neighbouring lands. This situation has prompted Switzerland to donate a further CHF 5 million to the victims of the conflict who are suffering hardship. The money is to be used to fund winter programmes run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and by the UNHCR in Syria, and to provide Save the Children in Jordan with material assistance to withstand the winter.


Temporary visa facilitation for Syrian nationals lifted

29.11.2013 — Press releases EDA
On 4 September 2013, the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) ordered an easing of visa requirements for Syrian nationals with relatives in Switzerland. This measure was aimed at facilitating temporary stay for war-afflicted relatives of Syrians living in Switzerland. As most of the relatives who were in direct need and therefore entitled to facilitated visa requirements have since made use of the measure, the directive was lifted on Friday by the FDJP.


Swiss national appointed commissioner-general of UNRWA

20.11.2013 — Press releases EDA
Pierre Krähenbühl, current director of operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been appointed commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon.


Switzerland and Turkey decide on a strategic partnership

10.10.2013 — Press releases EDA
On 10 October 2013, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter met the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoğlu, at the Lohn Manor in Kehrsatz for talks. Switzerland will expand and consolidate the already intensive relations between the two countries with the aim of creating a strategic partnership with Turkey, which is an emerging power and member of the G20.

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