Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will provide additional aid assistance to EU member states receiving large numbers of refugees from Syria to help them with their humanitarian work.

The UK government has provided funding for UN agencies and NGOs which includes support for Syrian refugees in Italy and in Greece.

The UK is prioritising its aid efforts where the need is greatest. Only a small percentage of Syrians displaced from Syria are seeking asylum in Europe; the vast majority remain in Syria and neighbouring countries. DFID is providing over £1 billion in response to the conflict in Syria. Of this, £501 million is for inside Syria and £519 million is to support neighbouring countries deal with the influx of refugees and pressures this creates, including Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. This has so far provided more than 18 million food rations, 2.4 million medical consultations and access to clean water for 1.6 million people. By meeting these basic needs we are helping Syrians stay in their home region.