BRUSSELS, Belgiam: On Monday, international donors, spearheaded by the European Union, pledged $5.4 billion (five billion euros) to support Syrian refugees. This announcement came during an annual gathering hosted by the EU and led by its foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, who emphasized that Syrian refugees should not be forced to return to their homeland.
The European Union committed 2.12 billion euros for 2024 and 2025. This includes 560 million euros already allocated for 2023 for displaced Syrians within the country and in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, with the same amount earmarked for 2025. An additional one billion euros was pledged for Syrian refugees in Turkey.
The situation in Syria is more dreadful today than one year ago. Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, said Borrell adding, “Today, 16.7 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, the highest level since the crisis began over 13 years ago.”
EU humanitarian chief Janez Lenarcic noted that, in addition to the five billion euros in grants, donors promised 2.5 billion euros in loans. He highlighted that the EU and its member states provided three-quarters of the grant pledges. The United States also contributed nearly 545 million euros ($593 million) in humanitarian aid, reaffirming its commitment to assisting Syrians and encouraging continued donor support.
Despite these pledges, the UN refugee agency has warned that its operations for displaced Syrians remain significantly underfunded, at just 15 percent nearly six months into 2024. Oxfam’s Syria director, Moutaz Adham, stressed that funding does not match the growing needs, saying, “The discussion remains far removed from the harsh realities Syrians face. Year after year, the number of people relying on aid grows.”
Countries hosting millions of Syrian refugees have increasingly advocated for their “voluntary” return to Syria. However, Borrell cautioned against any coercion. “Voluntary returns mean voluntary. He said, “Refugees should not be forced back to Syria, and the international community should not encourage such returns.
Syria’s war, which began in 2011 following a crackdown on anti-government protests, has resulted in over half a million deaths and displaced millions more. The World Bank reports that more than a quarter of Syrians live in extreme poverty due to the ongoing conflict.
Borrell highlighted the stalled efforts to find a political solution, noting that the Assad regime has shown no willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations. He said, “We ask everyone to use their influence to support a renewed political process, including our regional partners.”
