WCR This Week

David Leduc

OTTAWA - The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has received $5.95 million in additional funding from the federal government's Syria Emergency Relief Fund.

International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau held a news conference April 13, flanked by representatives from a dozen Canadian NGOs, including Development and Peace executive director David Leduc.

Bibeau announced Canadians had donated $31.8 million to various charities during the fund's five-month campaign. Donations had doubled during the two-month extension she granted earlier this year.

The fund committed the Canadian government to match funds up to $100 million, but Bibeau said the government would still contribute the $100 million.

It will provide $31.8 million to the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the other $68.2 million will go to various humanitarian and development projects in Syria and the region, she said.

Leduc said Development and Peace had raised $2,376,938 eligible for matching funds.

The donation to UNICEF will provide educational opportunities, child protection services and immunization programs in Syria and Jordan.

SCHOOLS BOMBED

Bibeau said 2.8 million children inside Syria have not been able to go to school for more than two years. Their schools have either been bombed or are being used for displaced persons.

The government is providing $100 million because of the "profound suffering of millions of people in Syria and neighbouring countries," the minister said.

The priorities for Global Affairs will be on women and children, she said. Children need to be educated to save them from future poverty, to prevent young boys from being recruited into extremist groups and to protect young girls from early forced marriages.

FOOD, SHELTER

Other monies will provide food, shelter, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, and counselling for victims of sexual violence, she said.

Development and Peace will receive up to $3.7 million to help vulnerable, internally displaced families in Iraq with shelter, water and sanitation and provide educational opportunities and learning materials for children.

SMALL FARMERS

Development and Peace has also been granted up to $1 million to help small farmers rebuild their livelihoods with sustainable gardening practices.

Leduc said the additional funding demonstrates the government "has shown openness to partners working in the region" who have asked "to maintain the development assistance governments around the world have been offering."

Though there has been a decrease in the hostilities in Syria, the situation "remains fragile," said Leduc. More than 13.5 million Syrians need immediate humanitarian assistance.