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Syria Emergency Relief Fund
9-22-2015
The ongoing conflict in Syria has triggered the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today. According to the United Nations, 12.2 million people inside Syria need urgent help, including 7.6 million who are internally displaced. It is estimated that well over 250,000 people have died in the conflict, with hundreds of thousands more wounded. More than 4 million Syrians have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
On September 12, 2015, the Government of Canada launched the Syria Emergency Relief Fund to support humanitarian relief efforts in response to the impact of the conflict in Syria.
How the fund works
For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities between September 12 and December 31 in response to the conflict in Syria, the government will set aside one dollar in the Syria Emergency Relief Fund. The government will use the fund to support experienced international and Canadian humanitarian organizations using established Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) channels and procedures. The total value of the Fund will be capped at $100 million.
The Syria Emergency Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and is administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada.
Donation criteria for individual Canadians
To be counted toward the Syria Emergency Relief Fund, donations must be made by individual Canadians, not exceed $100,000 per individual, and must be:
· monetary in nature;
· made to a registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations in response to the Syria crisis;*
· specifically earmarked for response to the Syria crisis;
· made between September 12 and December 31, 2015.
Donation criteria for individuals fundraising on behalf of organizations
Donations from a fundraising event undertaken to raise money from individuals in response to the Syria crisis are eligible to be matched. This fundraising may be undertaken by schools, faith-based organizations, clubs, social groups, businesses, incorporated entities or charitable organizations.
Any donations made by corporations, governments, businesses, partnerships, schools, incorporated or non-incorporated entities, and unions from their existing resources that were not raised from individuals specifically in response to the Syria crisis are not eligible to be matched. In addition, donations to augment the amount originally raised from individuals through a fundraising activity or event are not eligible to be matched.
Donation criteria for registered charities
Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the Syria Emergency Relief Fund Declaration Form which must be received by DFATD on or before January 15, 2016, for its donations to be counted toward the relief fund.
To ensure that donations are eligible for the matching program, registered charities must ensure that:
· donations comply with the conditions outlined above;
· donations will be used in support of the humanitarian response to the Syria crisis; and
· donations will be declared to DFATD.
It is up to the registered Canadian charity to certify that the donations declared are eligible. Registered Canadian charities are under no obligation to declare donations to DFATD if they are not satisfied that they meet the eligibility requirements.
The Syria Emergency Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and is administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity declaring the amount of eligible donations raised does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities, the government set aside one dollar for the Relief Fund. The government will use the fund to support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations to meet needs resulting from the crisis in Syria.
Allocation of funds
Charitable organizations fundraising for relief efforts in Syria will not have privileged access to financing from the relief fund. The fund will help meet the basic needs of conflict-affected people in the region, as well as in official development assistance-eligible transit countries for refugees. The Government’s contribution to this fund will provide assistance through international and Canadian humanitarian organizations and will meet humanitarian needs such as shelter, food, health, and water, as well as protection and emergency education.
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