Iceland announces new commitments to humanitarian efforts in Syria and neighboring countries

Iceland's contributions to humanitarian efforts in Syria and neighboring countries amount to ISK 820 million over the next three years. Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir announced this at the 2024 Brussels VIII Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region' held in Brussels this week.

"The dire situation of ordinary citizens in Syria is of great concern, as three out of four of the country's inhabitants are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance," says Minister Gylfadóttir. "Sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access in Syria and the region is of utmost importance."

Iceland's contributions for the next three years are channeled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Program (WFP), OCHA's regional funds for Lebanon and Syria, and the United Nations Organization for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Iceland's core contributions to UNHCR in 2025 and 2026 will also increase by 60 million ISK.