To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the countries neighbouring Syria to ensure that borders remain open to refugees fleeing conflict and persecution; how many refugees are currently living in those countries; and what further assistance they plan to give those countries to help them deal with refugees.
Answered on
8 July 2015
Syria’s neighbours have been generous in welcoming huge numbers of refugees, but tighter border restrictions are making it increasingly difficult for people to leave Syria. We hold regular discussions with host governments on this issue, and support UN refugee agencies UNHCR and UNRWA in their advocacy. There are over 3.9 million Syrian refugees in the region, including over 1.7 million in Turkey, over 1.1 million in Lebanon, and over 629,000 in Jordan. There are also 560,000 Palestinian refugees registered in Syria and thousands more in neighbouring countries, including many who have fled Syria. Whilst addressing the immediate needs of refugees and vulnerable members of host communities, UK aid is also supporting their longer term resilience and stability through funding to Lebanese and Jordanian municipalities for the running of essential public services, such as education.