EU offers UN agencies €147m in aid for Syria

The European Union committed 147 million euros (202 million dollars) in aid to UN agencies delivering assistance to people affected by the Syrian conflict. "The conflict in Syria has consumed tens of thousands of lives, uprooted millions from their homes, destabilized the region and consigned an entire generation of the young to an uncertain future," EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said during a visit to Brussels by top UN officials, dpa reported. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said the funding pledge revealed "not only generosity, but wisdom" as the Syrian crisis, which has been going on for nearly three years, is "not only a humanitarian catastrophic situation, it is also a clear threat to global peace and security." The money will go to the UN refugee agency, UNICEF and the World Food Programme.