International Donors Pledge Billions to Support Syria’s Transition
The European Union hosted a donor conference in Brussels on Monday, securing pledges of €5.8 billion ($6.3 billion) in aid to support Syria’s transition following the ousting of former leader Bashar al-Assad, as per Al Jazeera.
Western and regional powers convened at the one-day meeting, chaired by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to address the dire humanitarian situation in the war-torn nation.
Fourteen years of civil war have left Syria devastated, with hundreds of thousands killed, millions displaced, and the economy in ruins. The pledged aid aims to facilitate a peaceful transition, providing much-needed assistance to the Syrian people both within the country and abroad.
EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica announced the total pledge, breaking it down into €4.2 billion ($4.6 billion) in grants and €1.6 billion ($1.75 billion) in loans.
The European Union itself pledged a significant portion of the aid, committing nearly €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for increased support, stating, “Syrians need greater support, whether they are still abroad, or they decide to go home.”
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced an additional €300 million ($328 million) contribution from Berlin, to be channeled through the United Nations and other organizations assisting Syrians. She stressed the importance of an inclusive political process:
“There can only be a peaceful future for Syria if there is an inclusive political process.”
The United Kingdom also pledged up to £160 million ($208 million) in humanitarian aid, earmarked for providing Syrians with critical resources such as water, food, healthcare, and education in 2025.
While the total fell short of last year’s €7.5 billion ($8.2 billion) raised, primarily due to the United States rolling back its foreign aid budget, the commitment represents a crucial step in supporting Syria’s recovery.
For the first time, Syria, represented by interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, attended the meeting, marking a significant shift in international engagement with the nation.
Syria’s new leadership faces the daunting task of consolidating control over a territory fractured and ravaged by years of conflict. The transition remains fragile, highlighted by recent violence. Last week, clashes erupted following an ambush by gunmen from the Alawite minority sect, loyal to al-Assad, on a Syrian security patrol, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,500 civilians, mostly members of the Alawite community, according to a war monitor.
