29th August, 2014
Australia should step up its efforts to assist refugees and others facing the "horrors of war" in Syria, according to humanitarian aid agency Oxfam.
The organisation issued the call as the number of Syrian refugees registered with the UNHCR passed three million in what is the worst refugee crisis since the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
More than 22,000 Australians have signed an Oxfam petition calling on the Australian Government to give an additional $70 million in aid to the people of Syria.
Helen Szoke, Oxfam Australia chief executive, said the three million Syrian refugees are just "part of the picture of human suffering".
"With 10.8 million more people needing help inside Syria and indiscriminate attacks on civilians claiming more lives each week, more and more families will be forced to seek sanctuary," Dr Szoke said.
"The UN managed appeal for the humanitarian response to this crisis is still woefully underfunded, with only 40 per cent of the money it needs. Facing significant funding shortfalls, humanitarian agencies have already had to cut programmes and target their assistance, leaving refugees to go without."
Oxfam is calling on people to add their voice to the petition at www.oxfam.org.au.
– DAVID ADAMS
