Norway adds 90 mln dollars to alleviate humanitarian crisis in Syria

Norway said Wednesday it will provide 750 million Norwegian kroner (90 million U.S. dollars) to alleviate humanitarian crisis in Syria, with 20 percent of the fund earmarked for education and child protection efforts.

"Humanitarian needs will only increase as long as no peaceful solution is reached. Norway is also supporting the political efforts to establish a ceasefire and a peaceful solution for Syria," Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said in a statement.

"Syria is in danger of losing a whole generation as a result of the civil war. More than 1.6 million children have no form of schooling. Providing access to education, food and a secure environment is the most important way in which Norway can help to give these children a future," he said.

The Nordic country's funding for education activities will be channelled through UNICEF, Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council, according to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

The latest move will bring Norway's support to Syria and its neighbouring countries up to a total of 2.65 billion kroner since the Syrian crisis started in the spring of 2011. It provided 600 million kroner in humanitarian and development aid to Syria and its neighbouring countries last year.

The conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, has led to over 220,000 deaths. More than 4 million people have sought refuge in neighboring countries while a further 7.6 million are displaced within Syria.

According to UNICEF statistics, more than 5.6 million Syrian children are facing with the most desperate situation inside the country, and almost 2 million Syrian children are living as refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and other countries. Enditem