International solidarity was again in evidence on Tuesday 30 March at the fifth Brussels Ministerial Conference (Brussels V), convened in virtual format by the EU and the United Nations to help the Syrian population and neighbouring countries hosting refugees by contributing financially to alleviate suffering and reiterating the importance of a political solution to the conflict.
A total of €5.3 billion (US$6.4 billion) in grants and €5.9 billion (US$7 billion) in subsidised loans have been pledged for 2021 and beyond, in response to the UN's call for record needs of more than US$10 billion in 2021 alone (EUROPE 12688/15, 12685/17). For 2021 alone, pledges amount to €3.6 billion ($4.4 billion).
See the pledges and their breakdown: https://bit.ly/3swU8jT
The EU has reconfirmed €560 million from the EU budget, the same amount as in 2020. Referring to “12 million refugees and internally displaced and over 13 million people in need of assistance, half of them children”, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said: “The EU has stood by the Syrians and will continue to do so as long as necessary”.
He also paid tribute to neighbouring countries “for their generosity”. Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey together host 5.5 million refugees, along with Egypt and Iraq.
Education, protection, humanitarian access. After ten years of conflict, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and an economic crisis in the refugee-hosting countries, particularly cash-strapped Lebanon, all participants stressed the importance of continuing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and resilience and of prioritising children’s education, health care, access to basic services, protection of civilians and infrastructure, humanitarian access, and respect for international humanitarian law.
Resilience means “focusing on activities that allow people to earn a living and get back on their feet”, Lenarčič said.
24 million people in need of humanitarian or other assistance, over 80% of Syrians now living in poverty, 12.4 million people in food insecurity, including 1.3 million in acute food insecurity, 2.1 million children out of school... These figures, and regret for a “sacrificed generation that has only known war”, were echoed throughout the conference.
“I urge you to prioritize children’s education in Syria and the region”, said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock at the start of the conference.
“The emergency is no longer the priority: in our country, 50% of Syrians are under 15 years old, they need schooling”, added the Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman al Safadi. His country hosts 1.3 million refugees, only 10% of whom live in camps, he said.
Lebanese President Hassan Diab reported tensions between communities and refugees. He confirmed the continuity of support, including the provision of shelter, while stressing that local integration and settlement of refugees should not be relied upon.
The crucial importance of humanitarian access and the fear that Security Council Resolution 2533 on cross-border assistance will not be renewed after 10 July has been repeatedly stressed, including by Turkish Minister Seda Önal.
Collective responsibility for ending the conflict
Beyond humanitarian and resilience support, and as the conflict sadly observed its tenth anniversary a few days ago, the international community recalled the importance of a political solution. “This war is not just a Syrian war; ending it is a collective responsibility”, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
While the country is experiencing a semblance of calm, “military tension is high and frequent”, according to UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, and hospital and civilian infrastructure continue to be targeted for attack, while foreign armies and terrorist organisations remain present. Since the beginning of the conflict, more than 450,000 Syrians have been killed and another 100,000 are reportedly missing.
“Moving towards a nationwide ceasefire remains as urgent as ever”, Pedersen said.
“The conflict is far from over”, the High Representative lamented, stressing that at the same time, negotiations for a political solution are “close to a standstill”.
He called for progress towards a lasting political solution. “Syrians must decide the future of Syria; it does not belong to any faction or external power. It is up to the Syrians to shape Syria in negotiations led and directed by themselves, under the auspices of the United Nations”, said Mr Borrell. He called on the Syrian regime to move in this direction and to engage “meaningfully” in the negotiations, adding that this also applied to the regime’s supporters.
Currently, “the regime offers no future for the Syrian people, nor does it contribute in any way to the stability of the region. Unless this changes, it cannot be a partner for the EU or the international community”, Borrell warned.
But if the regime made an effort, so would the international community, the High Representative explained.
He said that if the regime and its allies implemented Resolution 2254, the international community could restore regular investment and trade, normalise diplomatic relations and rebuild Syria’s infrastructure, economy and society.
The High Representative also recalled that accountability is a key issue for sustainable peace and reconciliation.
“We will not abandon” Syria, he promised. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang and Camille-Cerise Gessant)