More than half the Syrian refugees, including over four million displaced Syrians still inside Syria’s borders, aren’t in any of the refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. There are more than 2 million refugees who have made it out of the war torn country.

Development and Peace is directing the government funding, from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, to its partners inside and outside Syria, including Caritas Lebanon, Caritas Jordan and local organizations inside Syria.

To date, an appeal from Development and Peace and Canada’s bishops has raised $1.3 million for programs in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

The new government funding will go to health, sanitation and shelter for refugees.

Development and Peace director Michael Casey calls the Syrian situation “one of the worst refugee and humanitarian crises happening in the world today.”

In a press release Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops President Archbishop André Durocher commended Catholics for responding to appeals from Pope Francis, Canada’s bishops and Development and Peace.

“I am most happy Development and Peace can give help through the various projects it will be sponsoring,” Durocher said.

Donations to the Development and Peace Syria appeal can be made on line at www.devp.org, by telephone at 1-888-664-3387 or by cheque to Development and Peace, 1425 René-Lévesque Boulevard, West 3rd Floor, Montreal, Que. H3G 1T7. Write “Syria” in the for-line of the cheque.