The German government has made a record-breaking commitment to the World Food Programme for Syrian refugees.
It is 570 million Euros worth $870 million Cdn.
“Germany’s generous support has already enabled us not only to save Syrians’ lives but also to support the livelihoods of suffering people," said Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme.
"This unprecedented donation will restore hope to so many of those who have been caught up in this terrible conflict,” she said at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in London.
“We are extremely grateful to the German government.”
The contribution, which brings Germany’s total contributions to WFP during the Syria crisis to close to 760 million Euros ($1.2 billion Cdn), will be crucial for the WFP Syria crisis response throughout the continuing winter period in the region, says the WFP in a news release.
On average, one euro feeds one refugee a day in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.
WFP currently supports an average of four million Syrians per month inside the country and 1.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, the mighty United States appears to be sitting on its hands. (Later I learned that the U.S. has pledged about $970 million.) But a Senate committee found time this week to raise fear about Syrian refugees coming to Canada.
And at the same time, the U.S. has committed more money to building bombs to replenish its stockpile that has been depleted by bombing Iraq and Syria.
Truly, can Donald Trump be that much worse? Well, maybe.
