PRESS RELEASE

BRUSSELS, 4 FEBRUARY 2016. Today, world leaders met in London to pledge new funding to support Syria and its refugees, in a conference co-hosted by UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nations.

Tamira Gunzburg, Director of ONE Brussels, said:

 “The EU’s commitment of more than €3 billion at the ‘Supporting Syria Conference’ is a really positive step. After all, Europe has a responsibility to meet the needs of refugees escaping insecurity. But it is important that these funds come on top of promises already made in the fight against extreme poverty.

 “We can and must keep up support both to refugees and live-saving aid programmes for the poorest. In its budget for 2016, the EU has shown that this is possible and member States should follow this example now as well. Otherwise those living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries will be shouldering the costs.”

 “ONE is joining forces with organisations including Save the Children, Oxfam, Global Citizen, CONCORD, BOND and Eurodad. Together we’re calling on leaders to make sure the choices they make on aid in the coming months don’t mean the poorest people lose out on critical services like education or healthcare.”

 ***ENDS***

Notes to editors:

• Contact, information &interviews – Andrea Ghianda // [email protected] // +32 (0)2 300 89 42 // +32 (0)471 89 64 22
• NEW ONE CAMPAIGN – Tell European leaders to protect the poorest – ONE is joining forces with a group of organisations including Save the Children, Oxfam, Global Citizen, CONCORD, BOND and Eurodad. Together we’re calling on leaders to make sure the choices they make on aid in the coming months don’t mean the poorest people lose out on education or healthcare.
• Global Goals – On 25 September 2015, world leaders have agreed 17 Global Goals that would virtually end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change in the next 15 years.
• ABOUT ONE: ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of nearly 7 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programmes. Read more at one.org.