REUTERS
The new funding brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for the regional response to the refugee and migrant crisis to nearly $44 million since the start of the crisis last year, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of State.
“Funding announced today will allow UNHCR to provide emergency and life-saving assistance for refugees and migrants, support the creation of adequate reception arrangements and management, enhance protection monitoring, assist authorities with registration and identification of new arrivals, enhance counseling to new arrivals and persons on the move, strengthen public information and advocacy strategies, and enhance communication efforts to inform communities of origin of existing and legal ways to enter Europe,” reads the statement.
Read alsoTurkey and Greece to discuss deal as influx continuesThe March 28 announcement includes $17.5 million for UNHCR’s Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe, $2 million for IFRC’s revised Emergency Appeal for Greece, and $500,000 for UNFPA’s Initial Response Plan for Refugee and Migrant Women and Girls in South-Eastern Europe.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the refugees found alternative routes for getting to Europe after the close-up of a so-called Balkan route via Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia to Austria and northern Europe.