The EU allocated an amount of €2.12 ($2.31) billion under its pledge on Monday to support Syria and neighbouring countries in the region for 2024 and 2025 amid the dire humanitarian situation in the country. The pledge, announced during the eighth edition of the Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, reiterates previous promises made by the EU during the 2023 Brussels VII Conference for 2024 to allocate €560 ($609) million in support for Syria, Syrian refugees in host countries and other vulnerable communities within.
High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell stated in light of the pledge:
Today in Brussels, the EU and the international community showed once again that we stand with the Syrian people and their host communities. The dire challenges that the region faces today cannot distract us from the need to persevere in pushing for a Syrian-owned political solution, in line with UNSCR 2254 and facilitated by the United Nations. This is the only credible path for all Syrians to live in peace and stability, and for refugees to return home.
The UN Security Council Resolution 2254 was adopted on December 18, 2015 in response to the serious humanitarian situation and its impact on the Syrian people with “its persistent and brutal violence”. The resolution stressed the urgent need “to build conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their home areas and the rehabilitation of affected areas, in accordance with international law” and urged member states to provide support.
Borell brought attention to the gravity of the situation in Syria as one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with 70 percent of the population in urgent need of humanitarian aid. He also highlighted the alarming security situation with continued breaches of international humanitarian law by the Bashar Al-Assad government and Islamic State. Consequently, he stated that the current security condition of the country eliminates any possibility for Syrian refugees to return to their home country. He further encouraged EU partners to implement “the required national procedures for asylum and refugee rights, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees”.
Since the eruption of the conflict in Syria, the EU made multiple efforts to mobilise financial support for Syrian nationals, with a humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation aid of over €30 billion.
Amnesty International urged participating government representatives ahead of the conference to guarantee that any aid provided to support Syrian refugees in host countries such as Lebanon “do not contribute to human rights abuses, including forcible deportations to Syria”. Amnesty International also condemned Lebanese authorities’ increasing “hateful rhetoric towards refugees” in addition to “restrictive measures intended to pressure refugees to return”.