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Donor conference focuses on needs in Syria (photo: eeas)
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SYRIA. Organised by the European Union (EU), the latest donors' conference for Syria raised $6.7bn (€6.36bn) in pledges. That is, about €4.1bn in aid for 2022 and €2.3bn for 2023.
From 9 to 10 May 2022, it brought together in Brussels seventy-five delegations from countries hosting Syrian refugees and from EU Member States. The sixth of its kind, it exceeds the previous amount gathered at the previous meeting on 30 March 2021, which was $5.3bn (€5.09bn). But the sum announced by the participating countries is far from sufficient to meet the needs defined by the United Nations. The UN estimates that $10.5bn (€9.97bn) is needed to help the 6.9 million displaced people in Syria ($4.4bn) and the 5.7 million refugees in neighbouring states ($6.1bn), particularly in Lebanon.
"Weariness is setting in after eleven years of conflict. It is understandable. It is difficult to deal with several conflicts at the same time, and Ukraine is making the headlines," says Josep Borrel. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is also vice-president of the European Commission, warns "not to give up on Syria, even if, unfortunately, there is no light at the end of the tunnel."
In Warsaw, on 5 May 2022, a similar conference for Ukraine had raised more than €6bn in humanitarian aid, including €200m from the European Commission and €300m from France for the seven million internally displaced people.
From 9 to 10 May 2022, it brought together in Brussels seventy-five delegations from countries hosting Syrian refugees and from EU Member States. The sixth of its kind, it exceeds the previous amount gathered at the previous meeting on 30 March 2021, which was $5.3bn (€5.09bn). But the sum announced by the participating countries is far from sufficient to meet the needs defined by the United Nations. The UN estimates that $10.5bn (€9.97bn) is needed to help the 6.9 million displaced people in Syria ($4.4bn) and the 5.7 million refugees in neighbouring states ($6.1bn), particularly in Lebanon.
"Weariness is setting in after eleven years of conflict. It is understandable. It is difficult to deal with several conflicts at the same time, and Ukraine is making the headlines," says Josep Borrel. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is also vice-president of the European Commission, warns "not to give up on Syria, even if, unfortunately, there is no light at the end of the tunnel."
In Warsaw, on 5 May 2022, a similar conference for Ukraine had raised more than €6bn in humanitarian aid, including €200m from the European Commission and €300m from France for the seven million internally displaced people.
4.8bn from the EU
According to Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, "after eleven years of suffering, we cannot and will not forget the Syrian people. The humanitarian situation is only getting worse in Syria."
Of the €6.4bn pledged in Brussels, more than €4.8bn comes from the European Union, with some €3.1bn from the European Commission and €1.7bn from EU Member States. Moreover, since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, these two components have been the main donors in support of the Syrian population, mobilising a total of €27.4bn to date.
"Our new Mediterranean agenda and the economic and investment plan will continue to support the socio-economic recovery of the region in the main refugee hosting countries, stimulating the real economy and creating new jobs, thus offering a perspective to the young generation," comments Olivér Várhelyi. According to the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement, "we have a number of projects in the pipeline that will bring real benefits to people on the ground, such as access to basic services, quality education, livelihoods, health care, water and sanitation."
Of the €6.4bn pledged in Brussels, more than €4.8bn comes from the European Union, with some €3.1bn from the European Commission and €1.7bn from EU Member States. Moreover, since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, these two components have been the main donors in support of the Syrian population, mobilising a total of €27.4bn to date.
"Our new Mediterranean agenda and the economic and investment plan will continue to support the socio-economic recovery of the region in the main refugee hosting countries, stimulating the real economy and creating new jobs, thus offering a perspective to the young generation," comments Olivér Várhelyi. According to the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement, "we have a number of projects in the pipeline that will bring real benefits to people on the ground, such as access to basic services, quality education, livelihoods, health care, water and sanitation."
