Australia will resettle an additional 12,000 refugees who are fleeing the conflict in Syria and Iraq.
Our focus will be on those most in need – the women, children and families of persecuted minorities who have sought refuge from the conflict in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
A team of Government officials will depart for the region as soon as possible to begin identifying and processing potential candidates for resettlement.
In addition, Australia will provide humanitarian support to more than 240,000 Syrian and Iraqi people who have been forced to flee their homes or seek refuge in neighbouring countries. This is expected to cost $44 million.
This funding will deliver much needed food, water, healthcare, education, emergency supplies and protection, including support for women and girls.
With this additional commitment, Australia's contribution to help address the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq will be around $230 million since 2011.
Joint media release: The Syrian and Iraqi humanitarian crisis
Syria and Iraq: Australia's humanitarian response
$230 million: Australia's contribution to help address the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq since 2011
including $44 million to assist more than 240,000 Syrian and Iraqi people who have been forced to flee their homes or seek refuge in neighbouring countries
Australia is:
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Helping protect refugees
including through $69 million provided to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for shelter, cash, blankets and cooking stoves -
Providing healthcare
including through $55 million provided to the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and other trusted partners -
Protecting children
including through $26 million provided to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) for education, vaccinations, water and sanitation -
Providing emergency services and supplies
including through $18 million provided to the Australian Red Cross and Australian NGOs including CARE, Caritas, Oxfam, Plan, Save the Children and World Vision for education, counselling, referrals to legal help, medical assistance and blankets -
Distributing food
including through $51 million provided to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food and food vouchers
Australia has also provided $11 million additional financial assistance for other aspects of the Syria crisis, including deployment of technical experts, humanitarian coordination and relief supplies.