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Peter Christiansen said: "Refugee camps in neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon are dangerously overcrowded and the risk of violence, disease, rape and hunger is rising every day.
"Lebanon and Jordan now face the very real threat of destabilization, due to an unprecedented influx of refugees. ActionAid is concerned that mounting tensions and increasing costs could lead to a permanent closure of border crossings, unless more help is given to countries dealing with the refugee crisis.
"The Syrian refugee crisis is a global responsibility. The international community must heed the UN's appeal for US 4.3 billion dollars to scale up its response. To date, not even a quarter has been received."
Notes to Editors:
The war in Syria has led to the world's most acute refugee crisis since the Rwandan genocide in 1990.At least 160,000 people have been killed and more than 10.8 million people have fled their homes, loved ones and livelihoods.In neighbouring Lebanon, one in four people is now a refugee from Syria.ActionAid is delivering an emergency response programme in Jordan and Lebanon and to date has helped a total of 45,390 of the most vulnerable people in need.In Jordan, ActionAid has provided essential items such as clothing, sanitary items, torches and first aid kits, and is providing longer term psychosocial support and the means to earn a living to people who have been living as refugees for some time.In Lebanon, ActionAid is providing refugees with vocational training, as well as cash transfers to vulnerable people and those unable to work to ensure they can meet their basic shelter, food, water and health needs.ActionAid is a global movement of people working together to achieve greater human rights for all and defeat poverty. We believe people in poverty have the power within them to create change for themselves, their families and communities. ActionAid is a catalyst for that change.
