The interim government in Damascus will attend an international conference on Monday in Brussels to seek aid pledges for Syria, which continues to face significant humanitarian challenges and an uncertain political future following the departure of Bashar al-Assad.
The interim government in Damascus will participate on Monday in an annual international conference to seek aid pledges for Syria, which is facing significant humanitarian challenges and an uncertain political transition following the departure of Bashar al-Assad.
The conference, hosted by the European Union in Brussels since 2017, has previously been held without the participation of Assad's government due to its actions during the civil war that began in 2011.
With Assad’s removal in December, EU officials hope to use the conference as an opportunity for a fresh start, although concerns remain over recent violence that has involved clashes between the new authorities and Assad loyalists.
EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the situation as one of "dire needs and challenges," particularly highlighted by recent violence in coastal regions. However, she also expressed optimism, referencing an agreement reached on March 10 to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which control much of the northeast, into new state institutions.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group now in control of much of the country, is designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations. Nevertheless, EU officials are engaging with the new rulers, provided they adhere to pledges of an inclusive and peaceful transition.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani is expected to attend the event, alongside numerous European and Arab ministers, as well as representatives from international organisations.
The conference is seen as crucial, especially as the United States, under President Donald Trump, has significantly reduced its humanitarian and development aid programmes.
At last year’s conference, pledges amounted to 7.5 billion euros ($8.1 billion) in grants and loans, with the EU committing 2.12 billion euros for 2024 and 2025.
Approximately 16.5 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian aid, with 12.9 million requiring food assistance, according to the EU. The war’s destruction has been compounded by an economic crisis, which has led to a sharp depreciation of the Syrian pound and pushed much of the population below the poverty line.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at a...
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior ...
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham "will always put Britain's interests first", he told the BBC in an interview when asked whether he was willi...
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General have called for restoring the organisation's credibility, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN, during the first public town hall debate ahead of a decisive Security Council vote next week.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 25th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A new state agency wants the world to take Georgian food as seriously as Georgians already do.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have signed regional and commercial agreements worth more than 80 billion tenge ($146 million). The deals aim to expand cooperation between the two Central Asian neighbors in trade, transport, industry and cross-border development.
UN Secretary General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday for the first trip to Syria by a serving United Nations' chief since 2009, before the start of a civil war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.
More than 100 Afghan business representatives travelled to Uzbekistan this week for a business forum aimed at expanding trade and investment, as Uzbek investors also expressed interest in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
Kazakhstan's grain sector faces a difficult season as drought reduces harvest prospects while mounting security risks in the Black Sea threaten to redirect cheaper Russian grain into Central Asian markets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment