BRUSSELS: The European Union is increasing its aid to those affected by the civil war in Syria by 215 million euros ($280 million).
The EU Commission said Tuesday the new funding includes 50 million euros for humanitarian aid and 165 million euros to support long-term development projects in Syria and the neighboring countries hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees.
The 28-nation bloc's executive arm said the humanitarian assistance will also help the more than hundred thousand Syrians who fled from advancing Sunni extremists to seek refuge in Turkey over the past few days.
EU Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said “the conflict in Syria continues unabated, and the needs of the Syrian people grow inexorably.”
Almost 3 million Syrians have fled their homeland since the start of the conflict there in 2011.
