The ‘Brussels II’ international conference of donors of aid for the future of Syria and the countries of the region opened on Tuesday 24 April with urgent calls to increase humanitarian aid to the vulnerable populations in Syria, which has been devastated by seven years of war, and the neighbouring countries, which are paying a high price due to the high number of refugees they are hosting, up to the limit of their capacity and despite the many difficulties.
So far, the UN has collected only US$2.3 billion of the US$9.1 billion (€7.3 billion) requested in 2018 by its humanitarian and development agencies to continue to provide vital support to more than 22 million people. Collecting this amount is one of the aims of this international ministerial conference co-hosted by the EU and the UN (see EUROPE 12007).
Of this total, US$3.5 billion (€2.8 billion) in humanitarian aid is hoped for, said Mark Lowcock, head of the humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordination office of the United Nations (OCHA), with the remaining $5.6 billion (€4.5 billion) required to support the neighbouring countries.
Today, with the conflict still raging, 13.1 million people are in need of humanitarian aid and protection in Syria. The conflict is responsible for 5.6 million refugees in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. And a further 3.9 million vulnerable people in the host communities also need support.
These figures were on all lips during the first day, which was given over to dialogue with NGOs concerning four priorities: protecting Syrians throughout the region; the best ways of channelling humanitarian aid and resilience support; promoting inclusive growth and social development in the host countries; guaranteeing a future for Syrian children and young people.
“In the first few months of 2018, the humanitarian crisis in Syria has further worsened. Over 700,000 people have been displaced by violence (…). Nearly 70% of the population are now living in extreme poverty”, Lowcock said. “We want Syrians to know that they are not forgotten (…). We call on donors to pledge funds to assist and protect Syrian families wherever they are. Despite fighting, bombing and violence, we will not give up”, he added.
France has already pledged €50 million, as President Macron announced to the European Parliament on 17 April (see EUROPE 12003). On Tuesday, Belgium’s minister for development cooperation, Alexander de Croo, pledged €26 million in humanitarian aid for Syria and the neighbouring countries. Other pledges of donations will be made on Wednesday.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, stressed that after years of conflict, the humanitarian situation is continuing to worsen, with worrying figures revealing a veritable human and humanitarian tragedy. He stressed that there are still active combat areas: Eastern Ghouta, Idlib, Afrin and other urban battlegrounds, and their cortege of civilian victims.
Of the 13.1 million people in need of aid, 6 million are children and 6 million displaced persons. 2.5 million are still living in areas under the protection of the United States and difficult to access. 420,000 people are living in siege conditions, the Commissioner stressed. There are four subjects at front and centre of the humanitarian part of the conference: - protecting refugees; - improving methods of channelling humanitarian aid and resilience; - boosting economic and social development; - the future of Syria: young people, their education, their future. “The aim is to increase the efficiency of the assistance we are providing”, the Commissioner said.
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, laid emphasis on the implementation of the most recent resolution of the Security Council, stressing the vital need for hostilities to cease in order to allow humanitarian access. “The EU has never been a military player, it is a humanitarian and political player. To be a humanitarian player, we need access. We need the arms to be silent for humanitarian reasons and political reasons”, she said. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)