After fleeing from Syria, Khaled Al Aboud (60) and his wife Sobhye only made it to Halba in northern Lebanon, near to the Syrian border. Khaled can barely walk, and his wife has health problems, too. Their two sons – 16 and 18 years old – manage to survive with casual jobs in agriculture; there is no hope of an education. And despite this, in contrast to many other people who have fled to Syria's immediate neighbours, the expensive and physically draining journey over the Mediterranean Sea and the Western Balkans is not an option for them.
Flight not an option
Overall, the Syrian conflict affecting more than 25 million people has triggered the largest humanitarian crisis since World War Two, with long-lasting implications that extend far beyond the region. Official numbers state that 4.3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries, while 13.5 million in Syria itself are dependent on aid. In Germany, Syrians accounted for the largest share of the 476,649 refugee applications made in 2015 according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
After fleeing to neighbouring countries, many initially hoped they would be able to return and enjoy a future in the post-Assad era – these hopes have been dashed. At the same time, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is drastically underfunded, while non-governmental organisations bemoan the lack of willingness to donate for Syrian refugees. The World Food Programme (WFP) even had to lower the amount of monthly food vouchers in 2015, to just USD 19 per month.
EUR 115 million for education and child protection
In this context, Germany is a very reliable contributor. However, against the background of sluggish payments overall from international donors for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) once again ramped up its support for Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq, but also for the suffering population in Syria, in early November. A winter package of EUR 115 million was mobilised at short notice and implemented via KfW Development Bank by the end of December. The money was primarily used for education and child protection. This was the first time that Syrian refugees in Turkey received support.
Overall, KfW Development Bank has financed during the last three years on behalf of BMZ projects in Syria's neighbouring countries in cooperation with various UN organisations to the tune of EUR 450 million. KfW develops programmes together with the United Nations and supports their implementation. There are also projects carried out directly with government partners in development cooperation countries.
For example, Khaled and Sobhye Al Aboud as well as their two sons in Lebanon receive an e-card for food, a kind of bank card that they can use for shopping in two Lebanese food stores nearby. It is not only the Al Abouds who benefit, but also the local shop owners.
Alongside the e-cards, school classroom containers and teachers are financed while infrastructure is repaired. This includes power lines, water supply and waste water disposal, football pitches and public roads.
KfW Development Bank expects to see further growth in funding in 2016, and is working on new approaches to overcome the crisis. Together with education and developing infrastructure, one priority area is creating income opportunities and employment for Syrian refugees. This is precisely what poses huge challenges for the host countries. Regardless whether it is Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey, discussions about jobs for refugees who will presumably stay are much more difficult than in Germany. Yet this is the only way to give the people a new outlook.
The two sons in the Al Aboud family find themselves in this situation: if they do not get a chance at an education and therefore a future in Lebanon, sooner or later they will start thinking about continuing on towards Europe.
