Milk helps Syrian children and beleaguered farmers

Around 350,000 refugee Syrian children are being supplied with free milk by the European Commission thanks to a

e30 million programme to help those affected by the crisis in the region.

The effort to help the children will also benefit Europe’s beleaguered dairy farmers who have suffered huge financial losses in their own crisis as the milk must originate in the European Union.

The funding for this latest programme is part of the e500m support package for European farmers presented by the commission last year.

EU commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, Christos Stylianides, said: “This new programme will help hundreds of thousands of Syrian children in need.

“We must remain committed to helping the most vulnerable victims of the conflict.

“This additional support will go to humanitarian partner organisations working in the country.”

EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Phil Hogan, also said: “I am pleased that the commission has adopted this programme, which is an integral part of the commission’s e500m support package for European farmers.

“This new programme delivers on two commission priorities, to support farmers at a very difficult time, while also ensuring that we remain fully focused on the major challenge posed by the ongoing refugee crisis.”

The conflict in Syria had a severe impact on the agriculture sector of the country, leading to a decline in food production, in particular of dairy products.

Consumption of milk has been significantly reduced, especially among poor households due to high food prices.

Syrian families typically consumed milk and other dairy products on a daily basis prior to the crisis.

At present, milk has in some cases completely disappeared from their diet.