International donors at a European Union-led conference in Brussels pledged €5.8 billion ($6.3 billion) on Monday to support Syria’s new authorities, who are grappling with humanitarian and security crises following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
The pledges fell short of last year’s €7.5 billion, with EU officials blaming cuts in U.S. aid as a key reason. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib acknowledged that while the EU remains committed to Syria’s recovery, “we can’t fill the gap left by others.”
The Brussels conference has been held annually since 2017, with Assad’s government excluded due to its role in the civil war. However, in a significant shift, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani attended this year’s gathering alongside European and Arab ministers.
EU officials are treating Assad’s overthrow in December as an opportunity for a fresh start, though deadly clashes this month between the new Islamist rulers and Assad loyalists have raised concerns about stability.
“This is a time of dire needs and challenges for Syria, as tragically evidenced by the recent wave of violence in coastal areas,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. However, she also pointed to signs of progress, citing a March 10 agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions.
The EU estimates that 16.5 million Syrians require humanitarian aid, with 12.9 million in need of food assistance. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would increase its pledge to nearly €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026, including an additional €160 million for this year.
Shibani welcomed the pledges, calling Syria’s reconstruction a “joint effort and a global partnership” in a post on X.
U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pederson noted that the decline in funding was driven by global competition for aid, citing conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine. “Even without this month’s violence, the funding would have been less than in previous years,” he told Reuters.
Syria’s economic crisis has deepened, with the Syrian pound in freefall and nearly the entire population living in poverty. The country has lost four decades of development due to the war, and it will take at least a decade to return to pre-conflict levels, said Achim Steiner, head of the U.N. Development Programme.
Despite concerns over the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which ousted Assad and is designated a terrorist organisation by the U.N., EU officials remain open to engagement—provided the group follows through on pledges for an inclusive and peaceful transition.
Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost shared rare insights on faith, unity, and modern challenges in a few candid interviews.
A humanitarian ship carrying 20,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat docked in Samsun, Türkiye, on Thursday, marking a major World Food Program initiative to supply crisis-hit regions, including Syria.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un supervised a missile test on Thursday, emphasizing the nation's nuclear combat readiness, according to state media KCNA.
EU foreign ministers will visit Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9 to discuss defense support and endorse plans for a tribunal on war crimes and aggression.
The election of U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV has drawn an emotional response from clergy and laity across the globe, celebrating his historic rise as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost shared rare insights on faith, unity, and modern challenges in a few candid interviews.
A humanitarian ship carrying 20,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat docked in Samsun, Türkiye, on Thursday, marking a major World Food Program initiative to supply crisis-hit regions, including Syria.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un supervised a missile test on Thursday, emphasizing the nation's nuclear combat readiness, according to state media KCNA.
EU foreign ministers will visit Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9 to discuss defense support and endorse plans for a tribunal on war crimes and aggression.
The election of U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV has drawn an emotional response from clergy and laity across the globe, celebrating his historic rise as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
Cardinals from 70 nations have gathered in Vatican City to begin the historic conclave to elect the next pope, following the death of Pope Francis 17 days ago. This conclave is the most geographically diverse in Church history, showcasing Francis’ legacy of inclusivity.
Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost shared rare insights on faith, unity, and modern challenges in a few candid interviews.
A humanitarian ship carrying 20,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat docked in Samsun, Türkiye, on Thursday, marking a major World Food Program initiative to supply crisis-hit regions, including Syria.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un supervised a missile test on Thursday, emphasizing the nation's nuclear combat readiness, according to state media KCNA.
EU foreign ministers will visit Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9 to discuss defense support and endorse plans for a tribunal on war crimes and aggression.
The election of U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV has drawn an emotional response from clergy and laity across the globe, celebrating his historic rise as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost shared rare insights on faith, unity, and modern challenges in a few candid interviews.
A humanitarian ship carrying 20,000 tons of Ukrainian wheat docked in Samsun, Türkiye, on Thursday, marking a major World Food Program initiative to supply crisis-hit regions, including Syria.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un supervised a missile test on Thursday, emphasizing the nation's nuclear combat readiness, according to state media KCNA.
EU foreign ministers will visit Lviv, Ukraine, on May 9 to discuss defense support and endorse plans for a tribunal on war crimes and aggression.
The election of U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV has drawn an emotional response from clergy and laity across the globe, celebrating his historic rise as the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
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