The SRTF Participates in the Meetings of the Governing Bodies of the European Union Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the Madad Fund

Gaziantep – Wednesday, 2 December 2015 – Mr. Hani Khabbaz, Director-General of the SRTF Management Unit (MU) participated in the meetings of Madad Trust Fund’s Board and Operational Board held in Brussels yesterday. The SRTF has an observer seat on the two governing bodies.

The Madad Trust Fund was established by the European Commission to address the effects of the Syrian crisis on Syria's neighboring countries, including long-term resilience and stabilization needs due to the presence of Syrian refugees.

In its Board and Operational Board meetings, the Madad Fund adopted a package of programmes worth a total of €350 million, including the following:

a €140 million education programme;

a €130 million resilience & local development programme;

a €55 million health programme; and

a €25 million water, sanitation and hygiene programme.

Commenting the occasion, Mr. Khabbaz said the SRTF participation in these meetings will help reinforce the complementarity and cooperation between the two institutions. He said: “the two organizations have complementary roles since the SRTF works exclusively inside Syria to reduce the suffering of the Syrian people while the Madad Fund focuses on helping neighboring countries meet the challenges arising from the influx of Syrian refugees.”

Mr. Khabbaz had participated on behalf of the SRTF-MU in the first meetings of MADAD’s governing bodies held in Brussels on 29 May 2015.

For information on Madad Fund, visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/neighbourhood/countries/syria/madad/index_en.htm

For further information on SRTF see:

http://www.srtfund.org

Media outlets may contact:

communications@srtfund.org