Red Cross, Crescent appeal for Syria refugee funds

Entrance to the International Red Cross, Red Crescent Museum in Geneva Amman – Arabstoday The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Thursday that all of its appeals to help Syrian refugees are underfunded, and asked for more aid. "We have several appeals, all underfunded ... below 20 percent coverage," Steve McAndrew, head of the IFRC's Emergency Operations for Syria, told a news conference in the Jordanian capital Amman.
"The needs are increasing and we need more support. This is a reflection of the increasing needs in the surrounding countries. More people are leaving Syria every day, more stress is put on the systems in the surrounding countries."
Some 1.6 million Syrians have fled since the Syria conflict began in 2011, mostly to neighbouring nations. Another 4.25 million have been displaced within the country itself, according to the United Nations.
The IFRC called for $75 million in aid.
"An initial appeal of 4.6 million Swiss francs ($4.89 million/3.72 million euros) launched in January 2013, to assist those fleeing to Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq has now been increased to 27.4 million Swiss francs," an IFRC statement said.
"A separate appeal for refugees fleeing north into Turkey, initially launched in November 2012, has been revised from 32.3 million Swiss francs to 44.1 million Swiss francs."
The movement said the appeal came in response "to the worsening situation" facing those fleeing the conflict, which monitors say has killed more than 94,000 people.