BRUSSELS—The international community has pledged a record figure of over €8.3 billion to meet the needs of Syrians and neighbouring countries and has renewed support to a UN-led political process to establish an inclusive and united Syria, safe for all citizens, during the the Brussels III Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region”.
The aim of the Conference remained to keep Syria and the Syrian people on top of the international agenda, renew the support to the UN-lead political process and mobilise international financial support for Syrians, for humanitarian aid both inside the country and in the neighbouring countries.
Almost two thirds of overall pledge come from the European Union.
Before the conference the UN estimated that $5.5 billion (4.4 billion euros) are needed to help the approximately 5.6 million Syrians forced to flee their country, most to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.
The conference, which was co-chaired by the European Union and the United Nations, saw the participation of over 80 delegations and 55 countries.
“We want this conflict not to be forgotten, we want the people of Syria not to be forgotten, in a moment when the international community seems to care a little bit less about this. We gather here so many from all around the world to say that we have to keep focused on a political solution for the conflict in Syria. It is not over yet, people need our support,” said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
‘’The people of Syria, Mogherini said, ask for a country where each and every one of them can find their place. An inclusive Syria, a sovereign and united Syria, a democratic Syria, a reconciled Syria. A place that every single Syrian citizen can call home.’’
Since 2011, over 17 billion euros were mobilised by the European Union and Member States alone to support Syrian people inside and outside of Syria since the beginning of the crisis, with both political and humanitarian support.