EU keen to help Syrian refugees

The European Union Thursday said that more than six million Syrians have been displaced, 1.6 million of whom are refugees, due to the Syrian conflict and the 27-member bloc pledged to continue to help them. "Alongside the efforts on the political front, the EU provides humanitarian and other assistance to the Syrians affected by the conflict, both those that still remain in Syria, and those who have fled the country," said EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom, Comissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs, and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva released similar statements to mark World Refugee Day. To date, 840 million euro in assistance has been committed by EU member states and the European Commission. The EU has also recently announced that it would deploy an additional package of 400 million euro in aid for Syrians, they stated. "Today is World Refugee Day: a day of growing concern for the international community as the number of displaced people around the world soars to a dramatic new high - more than 46 million." Another sign of Europe's lasting commitment to helping refugees is today's adoption by the EU of the Common European Asylum System, to ensure a better, more humane treatment of those seeking protection, said the statement.