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Photo posted, Reuters
On Tuesday, international donors pledged $ 6.4 billion in humanitarian aid to Syrians who have fled the decade-long conflict in Syria.
The United Nations hoped to raise an amount of $ 10 billion at the Fifth Brussels Conference on Syria, which was held via video link on March 29-30.
European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Linarkic said countries have pledged to contribute $ 4.4 billion by 2021 and $ 2 billion by 2022 and beyond.
Donors have offered $ 7 billion in loans.
“Dark message”
International aid organizations operating in Syria condemned the deficit in sums pledged by more than 50 donor countries immediately, at the Brussels conference organized by the European Union and the United Nations.
Oxfam Syria Director Moataz Adham said in a statement that funds pledged by donors confirm that they do not listen to the calls of millions of Syrians who have fled their homes and whose lives have been torn apart by ten years of conflict. .
“This funding sends a dark message to those trying to find a future after ten years of darkness and despair,” he added.
About 24 million people need basic aid in Syria and neighboring countries, an increase of 4 million from last year.
This is the highest number in need of help so far, since the outbreak of the devastating war in Syria, following the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 2011.
Photo posted, Reuters
The Commissioner for Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Josep Borrell.
The need for aid increased due to the coronavirus epidemic and the devaluation of the Syrian pound.
This comes despite the reduction in fighting in Syria after President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, backed by Russia, regained control of most of the country.
Syria’s neighbors, including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, face special economic problems and are struggling to shoulder the burden of hosting large numbers of refugees.
“Things are getting worse, more than 13 million people need humanitarian aid to survive this year,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Reduction of UK aid
Germany, the top donor, led the way this time by pledging to contribute 1.74 billion euros (about $ 2 billion), surpassing the United States with $ 600 million.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said: “The Syrian tragedy should not continue for another 10 years.”
Brussels said that $ 4.3 billion of the total money donated came from the European Union.
The union, which fears that not helping refugees in the Middle East will lead them to come to Europe, says it has provided nearly $ 29 billion since 2011.
But some prominent donors, such as Britain, have cut their contributions last year.
London cut its initial commitment by more than 30 percent to about $ 280 million, after the British government slashed aid spending overall.
