For the fourth consecutive year, the EU and the United Nations will co-chair the international conference supporting Syria and the region (Brussels IV), which, because of the Covid-19 crisis, will take place by videoconference on Tuesday 30 June.
As in previous years, the ministerial conference, which might include 58 countries, 12 regional organisations and international financial institutions and 13 United Nations agencies, will have a dual purpose: to collect pledges to help meet humanitarian needs and emphasise the international community's commitment to a comprehensive political solution in Syria.
States and organisations will therefore be invited to make financial contributions to assist displaced Syrian within Syria and Syrian refugees and their host communities, mainly in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, but also in Egypt and Iraq.
“The humanitarian crisis is far from over. 11 million people are in need of humanitarian aid”, said a senior EU official on Thursday 25 June.
It is reported that the United Nations’ current funding requirements in Syria amount to $3.8 billion, including $380 million for issues related to Covid-19, and the requirements for the region amount to $6 billion. However, a representative of the international organisation said on Thursday 25 June that the conference did not have a funding target. “We don't expect to meet the financial requirements, but we will carry on throughout the year. We know that some countries will not be able to make promises on Tuesday”, she said.
The 2019 conference enabled €6.2 billion in pledges for 2019 and almost €2.1 billion for 2020 and beyond to be collected.
According to monitoring figures published by the EU on Friday 26 June, these pledges were amply fulfilled and were even exceeded. In 2019, donors provided €8.9 billion in donations to Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, which was 43% more than the commitments made at the Brussels III conference. 71% of the pledges announced for the 2020 and beyond have already been paid, i.e. €1.5 billion (the report can be found at: https://bit.ly/2Zgo2eG ).
With donations worth €200 million in 2020, the EU is the largest donor of humanitarian aid inside Syria. Since the novel coronavirus crisis, the EU's humanitarian effort has focused on health, but assistance continues in the areas of food security, sanitation and protection of people.
According to the EU, the conference will also be an opportunity to “bring together all of the relevant actors to deal effectively with the current situation” and “offer continued support for UN efforts towards achieving a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian, conflict in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254”, and support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen. As in previous years, it is expected that a political statement by the Presidencies will be issued at the end of the virtual meeting.
And although the political commitment may seem somewhat feeble, a senior EU official said that it served as a reminder, at least once a year, of the international community's commitment and willingness to bring about a lasting solution to the Syrian conflict. “This exercise will need to continue as long as the key players refuse to accept that they need to engage in a lasting peace” he said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Aminata Niang)