Canada aids Syrian refugees with additional money

International Development Minister Christian Paradis announced Thursday $47.2 million is going out the door for humanitarian aid in Syria.

Speaking in Washington where he is attending meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Paradis said the money would be going straight to the World Health Organization, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees, the Red Cross, Oxfam and World Vision.

He said the funds are to help with emergency shelter, food and gender-based violence counselling, and added it is essential humanitarian workers are allowed to carry out their work.

Paradis said the money is the second part of $90 million the government pledged in June to provide relief to Syrian refugees.