Austrian gov't grants NGOs 15 mln euros to tackle migrant crisis

The Austrian federal government on Friday transferred 15 million euros (16.5 million U.S. dollars) to the country's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to cover their costs in dealing with the present migrant crisis, the Interior Ministry said.

The funds, part of a government "special budget", mark the beginning of monthly payments to cover expenses incurred in supporting migrants in September, the APA news agency reported.

A majority of the money, about 9 million euros (9.9 million dollars), is to go to the Red Cross, while Catholic church charity Caritas will also receive a sizeable sum.

Additional costs that exceed the given sum will also reimbursed by the government, the Interior Ministry said.

A Caritas spokesperson confirmed that the group's expenses will be calculated and then reimbursed in such a manner monthly, saying government funding will cover the costs of full-time employees, materials and rent.

In recent months, Austria, together with Hungary, has become a major transit "corridor" for tens of thousands of migrants struggling to reach their preferred destination -- Germany.

Due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, more migrants are expected to come in the near future. Endi