Erstellt am: 15. 1. 2014 - 14:19 Uhr

Biggest United Nations funding request ever

Reality Check: Aid for Syria; renewed violence in DRC; Vordernberg deportation centre; US & Israel; EU Troika

Appeal for Syria

EPA/STR

A convoy of trucks carrying foodstuff and medical materials offered by the United Nations for Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The United Nations is appealing for $6.5 billion this year to help Syrians affected by the war. That’s the UN’s largest-ever funding request for a single crisis. Half of the money is for neighbouring countries that have taken in an estimated 2.3 million refugees who have fled the country, while the other half will go to U.N. programs for victims still in Syria. Chris Gunness from the UN Relief and Works Agency describes the difficulties of transporting aid into Syria to where it is needed.

Violence re-emerges in DRC

The top United Nations envoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo says there are reports that the M23 rebel group is recruiting fighters and resuming activities despite last month's peace agreement. The deal signed by the M23 and Congo's government requires the insurgent group to demobilize its fighters and transform itself into a political party. A report from our UN correspondent Nick Harper.

Vordernberg deportation centre

Today sees the official opening of the new deportation centre for asylum seekers in Vordernberg in Styria. The involvement of the private security firm G4S has prompted criticism and controversy. Lukas Tagwerker is in Vordernberg and tells us what’s going on.

US-Israeli spat

Earlier this week the Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon angered the US government with remarks criticising Secretary of State John Kerry and his role in the Middle East peace process. Now Yaalon is trying to patch things up by issuing a statement apologising. Middle East expert Michael Lüders on the state of
the US-Israel relationship and what it means for the peace process.

Bailout troika under fire

In the context of the Eurozone crisis, the term “Troika” refers to the group of three institutions – the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund – which have been lending money to countries in trouble, like Greece and Ireland. The troika has also been setting the terms for qualifying those loans and some members of the European Parliament are not happy about the way things have been handled. Vanessa Mock reports from Brussels.