Austria is doubling its humanitarian aid to the Syrian people following a worsening refugee crisis and spiralling violence in the conflict-torn nation, the foreign minister said Tuesday.
The extra one million euros ($1.3 million) comes after Austria already donated the same amount, Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said in a statement.
About 650,000 euros will go to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the rest will go to non-governmenal Austrian groups working with the Syrian population.
According to UN estimates, more than 2.5 million people need humanitarian help in Syria, as well as more than 250,000 Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.
Syria's armed revolt has since March 2011 led to more than 27,000 deaths, according to the Syrian Obsrvatory for Human Rights. The UN puts the toll at more than 20,000.
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