UN Seeks $8.4 Billion To Help Syria Refugees

Syrians taking shelter in Turkey's Sanliurfa

The United Nations is seeking nothing less than $8.4 billion for next year to help nearly 18 million people affected by the war in Syria. AP reports:

The U.N. high commissioner for refugees, Antonio Guterres, said Thursday that people who have been displaced within Syria “have exhausted their savings and resources” while nearby countries faced with a refugee influx “are at breaking point.”

Some $2.9 billion of next year’s requested funding is aimed at addressing needs inside Syria, giving aid and shelter to 12.2 million people.

The U.N. wants $5.5 billion to help refugees outside Syria and bolster host countries. The aim is to help nearly 6 million people in total and it’s working on projections that there will be up to 4.27 million refugees in countries neighboring Syria in a year’s time.