Participants in the eighth Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria have pledged €7.5 billion in financial aid in the form of grants and loans to assist Syrian refugees.
The ministerial meeting concluded on Monday in Brussels, bringing together foreign ministers from Arab nations, EU member states, the United Nations, and international institutions.
EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčič expressed his approval of the €5 billion in grants and €2.5 billion in loans secured to support Syrian refugees. He noted that €3.9 billion of the grants are earmarked for 2024, with the remainder allocated for 2025 and beyond.
Lenarčič highlighted that international financial institutions and donors have provided loans under favorable conditions amounting to €2.5 billion.
In contrast, last year’s conference saw commitments totaling €9.6 billion in grants and loans.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell emphasized the escalating severity of the situation in Syria, noting that humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels.
“Today, 16.7 million Syrians require humanitarian aid, the highest since the crisis began over 13 years ago,” Borrell stated.
The campaign comes after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned that its operations to support displaced Syrians remain severely underfunded, with a 15% shortfall halfway through 2024.
Oxfam’s Director in Syria, Moutaz Adham, welcomed the pledges but stressed that the discussions are still far removed from the harsh realities faced by Syrians.
