The United Nations has allocated some seven billion dollars in aid pledged for Syrian refugees, overcoming – what several Western diplomats referred to as: “fatigue among donors after eight years of conflict.” U.N. undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs Mark Lowcock voiced his satisfaction with the outcome and saying that: “We’re very pleased with the outcome. On behalf of the United Nations, ee want to thank you for your generosity. Your support will help save millions of lives and protect civilians across Syria and across the region.”
The European Union, the world’s biggest aid donor, pledged two billion euros for this year, although that sum included money previously allocated for Syrian refugees in Turkey under a deal with Ankara meant to thwart efforts by Syrians to migrate into Europe. According to European Commissioner For Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides, “Today, we are sending a strong message to the people of Syria. Today we are also sending a strong message to the world: a stable, democratic and prosperous Syria is possible through a peaceful and inclusive political solution. This should guide our common political recovery and humanitarian efforts. We must secure a better future for the people of Syria. We owe it to this generation of Syrians who suffer unfairly.”
The United States is also among the donor countries, pledging over 397 million dollars. “Today the United States announced more than 397 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Syria as part of the United Nations Syria response plan. This reflects our commitment to providing critical, lifesaving support to any Syrian impacted by the conflict no matter where they live, both inside Syria and vulnerable refugee communities in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt. U.S. humanitarian assistance is now more than 9.5 billion since the start of this crisis, and we appreciate all donors who have stepped up and we encourage others to help meet the growing need as well,” said U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino.
It is important to note that the nearly 7 billion dollars in donations is earmarked for Syrian refugees outside of the war-torn country, and not for the reconstruction of Syria.