International solidarity with Syrians and host communities for nearly 7 million refugees was on display on Tuesday 10 May at the sixth ministerial conference in Brussels, entitled ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ (‘Brussels VI’), organised by the EU to “not forget Syria” at a time when attention is focused on the Ukraine crisis.
This was the call made by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the start of the conference (see EUROPE 12947/13).
In total, €6.4 billion (US$6.7 billion) has been pledged - including €4.1 billion (US$4.3 billion) in grants for 2022 and, for 2023 and beyond, €2.3 billion (US$2.4 billion) in grants.
In addition, €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion) in subsidised loans from financial institutions were provided.
“This is more than last year”, said the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Oliver Várhelyi, announcing the “more than encouraging” result. He pointed out the EU and its Member States’ commitments amounted to €4.8 billion, or 75% of the total pledges.
The 55 countries that participated showed that the Syrian crisis, which continues after 11 years of conflict, will not be forgotten, given the growing humanitarian needs - 14.6 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance, 90% of the Syrian population live in poverty, and 60% are threatened by food insecurity.
All expressed their gratitude to the refugee-hosting countries (Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as Egypt and Iraq), which are paying a heavy price and whose needs are exacerbated by soaring food prices - 26.5 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance in these host countries.
The EU, which has provided over €27 billion in humanitarian aid since 2011, has pledged €3.125 billion for 2022 and 2023. This amount is based on the multi-annual commitments made last year at the Brussels V conference (see EUROPE 12689/8). To the €560 million already pledged for 2022, the European Commission has added €1 billion, Mr Borrell said. He assured that “for 2023, the European Union and its Member States will provide the same financial support - €1.56 billion for Syrians and neighbouring countries”.
In addition to emergency aid, international and EU aid includes early recovery support, which the UN has welcomed. “To meet the needs of citizens, sustainable assistance is needed, revitalising access to basic services”, said the UN OCHA humanitarian coordinator. This includes, for example, the rehabilitation of water and health infrastructures.
The US has pledged over US$800 million in humanitarian aid, and Japan has pledged US$19 million for Syria and the region in 2022.
Many countries have stressed the importance of the renewal and extension in July of UN Security Council Resolution 2585 on the cross-border aid delivery mechanism, which is essential for the 4 million people in north-western Syria, where 60% of the population has been displaced.
The UNICEF representative stressed that “after 11 years of conflict and sanctions, Syria has turned back the clock by 25 years” - 2.8 million Syrian children are living in neighbouring countries, 1/3 of Syrian children are malnourished, 1/3 show signs of trauma and 3 million young people are not in school. UNICEF needs $300 million to prevent a generation from being sacrificed, and the same amount for the north of the country.
Support for a sustainable political solution
Beyond the financial commitments, the participants reiterated their support for the political process for a solution to the conflict. “The international community as a whole is convinced that a comprehensive political solution is the ultimate imperative”, Mr Borrell said. He assured that its commitment to Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a political solution, and the efforts of the Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, would not waver.
For Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, after eleven years of conflict, “the world has realised that any political and economic blockade and military confrontation will lead to nothing but more suffering and destruction”. He therefore called for priority to be given to “dialogue to establish peace, stability and security”.
Borrell warned that the EU would not soften its stance towards the Syrian regime until it committed to a genuine political transition. Although the Iraqi minister said economic and political sanctions were “unnecessary”, Mr Borrell said the EU would not relax its sanctions or normalise relations with the regime until people could return home “in safety”.
“We can take the pressure off and release the funds needed to rebuild Syria and return its refugees, but only if there is real change and a genuine willingness to compromise with credible commitments to political reform”, he said. According to Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, the Syrian regime has expressed its willingness to open negotiations with all those who support Syria.
And while Mr Borrell hoped that the conditions would soon be in place for a “voluntary, safe, sustainable and dignified” return of refugees to their country, the Lebanese minister said they should return home. Mr Bou Habib believes that “the international community must change the way it works, it must support the Syrians, but in Syria”. He explained that his country had been able to negotiate the return of hundreds of thousands of Syrians to Syria, but that they were returning to Lebanon to benefit from international aid.
Mr Borrell and Mr Hussein also emphasised accountability. “We must also maintain our commitment to justice and accountability for crimes committed - remember that many horrific crimes were committed during more than a decade of conflict”, the High Representative insisted, adding that “the truth about the missing - those who have been held in secret for far too long - must be found”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang and Camille-Cerise Gessant)