Canada pledges $229 million to help victims of Syria conflict, refugees

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan says Canada is giving $229 million in aid for Syria and neighbouring nations hosting refugees from the war-torn state. 

The aid package includes $169 million for food, clean water and hygiene and health services, as well as support for women facing sexual and domestic violence.

Canada is playing a key role in an international conference in Brussels today on finding a lasting political solution to the conflict in Syria.

The aid package will also help Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, where many Syrian refugees have fled President Bashar Assad’s Moscow-backed regime. 

Some of the aid will help buy grain for the region, which usually relies on wheat from Ukraine as a staple food source. 

The aid is to be funnelled through the United Nations and international aid agencies, including the Red Cross and Red Crescent.