Finland nearly doubles Syrian aid
Finland is granting more humanitarian assistance to those suffering because of the Syrian crisis.
Minister of Development Cooperation Heidi Hautala announced on Thursday that Finland will provide one and a half million euros worth of aid to those in need, including those who have fled Syria to neighbouring countries.
The aid will be distributed through the Finnish Red Cross, the World Food Programme and UNICEF.
The latest tranche almost doubles Finnish aid to those hit by the Syrian conflict, bringing it to a total of 2.8 million euros so far.
Earlier on Thursday UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said that as many as two and a half million people are in need of aid in Syria.
The UN estimates that there are a million internally displaced persons within Syria's borders.
Some 23,000 people are believed to have been killed during the uprising that began nearly a year and a half ago.
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